Lt. Xavier Mercer-Roberts

Lt. Xavier Mercer-Roberts serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), overseeing the acquisition of advanced naval aviation systems critical to maintaining U.S. Navy and Marine Corps air superiority. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle procurement of aircraft and associated avionics, he ensures alignment with strategic modernization goals, including carrier-based and expeditionary air platforms. His role encompasses the full spectrum of defense contracting—from initial requirement validation through contract award and performance oversight—focusing on complex, high-technology systems that support operational readiness and technological dominance in contested environments. Mercer-Roberts maintains consistent working relationships with industry leaders such as Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with prime contractors experienced in the design, integration, and sustainment of rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and unmanned aerial systems. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based logistics, systems engineering integration, and risk-mitigated acquisition strategies, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in technical rigor and mission alignment. He routinely engages with contractors possessing deep expertise in aerospace manufacturing, mission systems, and next-generation propulsion technologies. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Mercer-Roberts applies a 100% Total Small Business Set-Aside strategy across all his procurement actions, consistently directing opportunities to small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate, mission-driven commitment to expanding the defense industrial base and fostering innovation through diverse supplier engagement. His procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing), with an emphasis on procuring manned and unmanned combat aircraft, flight control systems, avionics suites, and integrated weapon delivery platforms. His technical expertise lies in aerospace systems integration, military specification compliance, and sustainment of legacy and next-generation naval aviation fleets.