Meredith Howes

Meredith Howes serves as a key procurement lead within the Naval Special Warfare Command, supporting the acquisition of mission-critical equipment and services essential to elite maritime special operations forces. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts aligned with the command’s strategic priorities in unconventional warfare, maritime mobility, and tactical technology integration. Her work ensures that special operations units are equipped with specialized systems for low-visibility, high-risk environments, including advanced watercraft, unmanned systems, and mission-specific gear. Howes operates within the broader U.S. Special Operations Command framework, applying rigorous contracting discipline to meet urgent operational needs while maintaining compliance with federal acquisition regulations. She maintains sustained relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including Trofholz Technologies, Inc., Pass Christian Yacht Works, LLC, and Teamworks Tactical Solutions Inc., who provide custom maritime platforms, tactical equipment, and mission support systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships with firms possessing niche technical expertise in naval systems, tactical gear fabrication, and expeditionary logistics. These relationships are characterized by iterative collaboration, rapid prototyping support, and responsive service delivery tailored to the unique demands of special operations forces. Howes demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 59% of her awards designated for small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting patterns consistently prioritize small, agile vendors capable of delivering specialized solutions, reflecting a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and maintain supply chain resilience. While no specific socioeconomic categories are dominant, her portfolio supports broad-based small business engagement across multiple veteran-owned, women-owned, and HUBZone firms. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), supporting the construction and maintenance of specialized watercraft, and 423910 (Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers), sourcing tactical gear and maritime equipment. She also procures custom textile products and communication systems critical to operational readiness, demonstrating deep expertise in maritime defense logistics and expeditionary equipment procurement.