Mary B. Edwards

Mary B. Edwards serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of advanced naval aviation systems. She manages complex contracts for critical defense technologies, including guided missile systems, aircraft components, and integrated avionics, ensuring alignment with the Navy and Marine Corps’ operational readiness goals. Her work directly enables the modernization of carrier-based and expeditionary air platforms, with a focus on end-to-end acquisition from requirements validation through contract award and performance oversight. Edwards operates within a high-stakes technical environment, requiring deep familiarity with defense acquisition regulations and systems engineering processes. She maintains sustained contracting relationships with industry leaders such as Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with prime contractors who deliver cutting-edge aerospace and weapons systems. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and systems integration, often coordinating multi-year, multi-phase acquisitions that require rigorous technical evaluation and risk mitigation. These partnerships reflect a preference for established defense contractors with proven track records in delivering mission-critical aviation platforms and support infrastructure. Edwards’ contracting portfolio reflects no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This indicates a strategic focus on technical capability and mission necessity over socioeconomic categorizations, prioritizing performance, scalability, and readiness over program-specific small business targets. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, her awards remain open to all qualified vendors meeting stringent defense standards. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing) and 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), with significant engagement in engineering services under 541330. She specializes in procuring advanced munitions, flight control systems, unmanned aerial vehicle components, and mission-specific avionics, demonstrating deep expertise in aerospace systems integration and defense electronics procurement.