Melissa Bucci

Melissa Bucci serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions for advanced naval aviation systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle procurement of mission-critical technologies, including avionics, flight control subsystems, diagnostic instrumentation, and sustainment infrastructure. Working within the Department of the Navy’s research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) framework, Bucci ensures that acquisitions align with technical specifications, operational readiness goals, and federal acquisition regulations. She routinely manages sole-source, competitive, and sealed-bid contracts for high-performance aerospace systems requiring rigorous certification and integration standards. Bucci maintains strong, ongoing relationships with key defense contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., PCI Aviation LLC, Critical Communications, Controls and Instruments, LLC, and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC. These partnerships are primarily centered on the development and integration of mission-specific hardware and software systems for naval aircraft. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical collaboration, performance-based contracting, and risk mitigation in support of rapid prototyping and fielding cycles. While the majority of her acquisitions are unrestricted, Bucci demonstrates a consistent commitment to small business participation, with approximately 28.2% of her portfolio designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She actively facilitates opportunities for small businesses with relevant technical capabilities, particularly those qualified in aerospace systems integration and electronic component manufacturing. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), and 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing). She specializes in procuring precision avionics, embedded control systems, and test instrumentation critical to naval airpower modernization and lifecycle sustainment.