Michael Ridler

LCDR Mike Ridler serves as a procurement specialist within the U.S. Coast Guard’s SFLC Procurement Branch 3 (70Z040), where he manages critical acquisitions to sustain and modernize the Coast Guard’s maritime fleet. His role centers on executing shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance contracts that ensure operational readiness and lifecycle integrity of cutters and vessels. Ridler applies deep expertise in defense acquisition regulations and lifecycle management to deliver mission-critical capabilities under strict compliance with federal procurement standards. He routinely oversees complex, multi-year contracts requiring technical oversight of marine systems, structural modifications, and propulsion upgrades, ensuring alignment with Coast Guard engineering and safety mandates. Ridler maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of specialized marine contractors, including Philadelphia Electrical Equipment Co., JDCI Enterprises, Inc., ALS Services USA, Corp., Cabras Marine Corporation, and Bay Marine Boatworks, Inc. These vendors are recognized for their niche capabilities in vessel refit, electrical system integration, marine fabrication, and dry-dock maintenance. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term partnership development with firms possessing proven experience in Coast Guard-specific vessel platforms, fostering reliability and technical continuity across procurement cycles. Ridler demonstrates an unwavering commitment to small business participation, directing 100% of his acquisitions under the Total Small Business Set-Aside authority (FAR 19.5). His portfolio exclusively supports small businesses, ensuring equitable access to federal maritime contracts and promoting workforce development within the marine industrial base. This consistent socioeconomic strategy reinforces the Coast Guard’s mission to cultivate a resilient, diverse supplier network capable of sustaining national maritime security. His procurement focus is entirely concentrated on NAICS 336611—Ship Building and Repairing—where he procures specialized services including hull repairs, electrical and navigation system overhauls, corrosion control, and dry-dock facility utilization. Ridler’s technical domain expertise lies in naval architecture compliance, Coast Guard vessel class standards, and marine engineering specifications, making him a key steward of the service’s operational endurance through precision procurement.