Mary Ellen Howard

Mary Ellen Howard serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of critical naval aviation systems. She manages complex contract actions for aircraft propulsion systems, engine components, and related aviation technology, ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s mission to maintain air superiority through advanced, reliable, and combat-ready platforms. Her work directly enables the modernization of carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft fleets by securing high-performance engine systems and precision-engineered parts that meet rigorous military specifications. Howard operates within the full spectrum of defense acquisition phases, from requirements validation through contract award and performance oversight. Her primary contractor relationships are with industry leaders in aerospace propulsion, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, reflecting a focus on prime contractors with deep expertise in military-grade turbine and propulsion systems. These partnerships are characterized by long-term sustainment contracts and technical collaboration to support fleet readiness and rapid fielding of upgrades. Howard consistently engages with vendors possessing specialized engineering capabilities in gas turbine design, materials science, and propulsion integration, ensuring technical compliance and operational reliability. Howard’s procurement portfolio reflects no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This indicates a strategic emphasis on technical superiority and industrial capacity over socioeconomic set-asides, prioritizing mission-critical performance and supply chain resilience. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her portfolio, she ensures compliance with all federal acquisition regulations and maintains transparency in source selection. Her core technical focus lies in NAICS 336412—Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing—where she procures advanced turbine engines, power transmission systems, fuel control units, and other mission-critical propulsion components. Her expertise centers on high-thrust jet engines, turboshaft systems, and integrated power modules used in naval helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems, underscoring a deep domain knowledge in aerospace propulsion technology and defense manufacturing standards.