Nakia P. Awkard

Nakia P. Awkard serves as Secretary II within the Strategic Systems Programs (N00030) under the Department of the Navy, providing critical administrative and procurement support for the lifecycle management of the U.S. Navy’s strategic deterrent systems. In this role, she facilitates the execution of complex engineering and technical acquisitions, ensuring seamless coordination between program offices, contracting teams, and external vendors. Her responsibilities include managing documentation, maintaining contract records, and supporting the procurement process for high-stakes national security systems, with a focus on systems engineering, test and evaluation, and command, control, and communications infrastructure essential to the sea-based nuclear deterrent. Ms. Awkard regularly collaborates with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., and JRC Integrated Systems, LLC. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, mission-critical engagements centered on advanced defense technologies and integrated systems development. Her support ensures efficient contract administration and compliance with DoD acquisition regulations, reinforcing the agency’s reliance on established defense industry leaders with proven expertise in strategic weapons systems. Her procurement activities reflect a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic categories. This approach aligns with the technical complexity and national security sensitivity of the programs she supports, where specialized capabilities are concentrated among a limited pool of qualified vendors. The primary NAICS classification guiding her acquisitions is 541330 (Engineering Services), reflecting an exclusive emphasis on professional engineering support, systems integration, and technical analysis for strategic deterrence platforms. She enables the procurement of advanced systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and weapons integration services critical to maintaining the operational readiness and technological superiority of the Navy’s strategic deterrent forces.