Melinda Lewis

Melinda Lewis serves as a Contract Specialist at U.S. Transportation Command (USTransCom), where she plays a critical role in executing the agency’s global mobility mission through the acquisition of expeditionary logistics and transportation services. She manages complex procurement actions for air, sea, and inland water freight transportation capabilities essential to military deployment and sustainment operations. Her work ensures the timely movement of personnel and materiel across all domains, supporting theater access and operational readiness. Melinda specializes in negotiating and administering performance-based contracts under FAR Part 16, with a focus on long-term, mission-critical transportation solutions that align with DoD strategic mobility objectives. Melinda maintains consistent contracting relationships with key vendors including UNCOMN LLC, PHOENIX AIR GROUP, INC., RAMPART AVIATION, LLC, FANCIULLI EGISTO S.R.L., and MOUNTAIN AVIATION, LLC. These partnerships reflect a reliance on specialized aviation and maritime logistics providers with proven expeditionary capabilities. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance metrics, risk mitigation, and operational flexibility, fostering collaborative relationships with vendors who can deliver responsive, global-scale transportation services under dynamic operational conditions. Her procurement patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 66.7% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions, while 33.3% are awarded under Total Small Business Set-Asides per FAR 19.5. This balance reflects a commitment to leveraging small business innovation while maintaining the scale and capability required for global mobility operations. She actively supports socioeconomic programs by directing a meaningful portion of contracts to qualified small businesses, particularly those with maritime and aviation expertise. Melinda’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 483111 (Deep Sea Freight Transportation) and 483211 (Inland Water Freight Transportation), reflecting her specialization in ocean-going cargo vessels and riverine barge operations. She procures end-to-end freight transportation services, including port terminal handling, containerized cargo movement, and intermodal coordination. Her technical expertise centers on maritime logistics systems, port throughput efficiency, and expeditionary supply chain resilience, ensuring USTransCom maintains global reach and operational tempo.