Michele Mutschler

Michele Mutschler serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a critical role in executing the lifecycle acquisition of naval aviation systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full spectrum of contract management—from solicitation and source selection to award administration and performance oversight—for high-priority aircraft propulsion and engine-related programs. She supports NAVAIR’s mission to maintain air superiority by ensuring timely, compliant, and cost-effective procurement of mission-critical aviation components, particularly those integral to carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft fleets. Her acquisitions are technically complex, requiring deep engagement with engineering and logistics stakeholders to align contractual deliverables with operational readiness requirements. Mutschler maintains sustained working relationships with leading defense aerospace prime contractors, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics. These partnerships center on the procurement of advanced aircraft engine systems, propulsion components, and integrated avionics support infrastructure. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical compliance, and long-term sustainment planning, fostering collaborative vendor relationships grounded in rigorous oversight and continuous improvement principles. Mutschler’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions issued without set-aside designations. This indicates a deliberate alignment with NAVAIR’s strategic need for access to the highest-capability industrial base, prioritizing technical maturity and scale over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not structurally mandated in her portfolio, she ensures compliance with all applicable small business subcontracting requirements under prime contracts. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 336412—Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing—reflecting deep specialization in gas turbine propulsion systems, engine control units, and high-precision engine components. She routinely manages contracts for next-generation jet engine technologies, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) services, and mission-critical spare parts, demonstrating expertise in aerospace propulsion engineering and defense logistics frameworks.