Lori Snickles

Lori Snickles serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a pivotal role in executing the acquisition lifecycle for critical naval aviation systems. She manages complex procurements spanning aircraft platforms, avionics, mission systems, and sustainment services essential to maintaining air superiority for the Navy and Marine Corps. Her work directly supports NAVAIR’s mission of research, development, testing, and lifecycle management of carrier-based and expeditionary aviation assets. Lori specializes in full-spectrum contracting for high-technology defense systems, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurement strategies with operational readiness goals. She maintains longstanding relationships with leading defense prime contractors including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, frequently engaging these firms on integrated aircraft systems, unmanned aerial systems, and advanced weapons integration contracts. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical risk mitigation, and systems engineering support, fostering collaborative partnerships that prioritize innovation and operational reliability. Lori consistently works with industry leaders capable of delivering mission-critical capabilities under stringent military specifications. Lori’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This underscores a strategic focus on leveraging the broadest possible industrial base to meet the technical complexity and scale of naval aviation requirements, rather than socioeconomic set-asides. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her portfolio, she ensures all solicitations are structured to permit equitable access for qualified vendors of all sizes. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334511 (aeronautical and navigation systems manufacturing) and 336411 (aircraft manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in airborne sensors, flight control systems, radar and electronic warfare suites, and airframe integration. Lori’s technical acumen enables her to effectively evaluate engineering proposals, negotiate technical specifications, and oversee contract performance for next-generation naval aviation platforms.