Patricia Victoria "Vicki" Highsmith

Patricia Victoria "Vicki" Highsmith serves as a Contract Specialist within the W6QK Acc-rsa under the Department of the Army, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing the Army’s aerial and missile defense modernization initiatives. She manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions for mission-critical aerospace systems, including avionics, propulsion components, and integrated sensor platforms supporting platforms such as the UH-60 and AH-64 Apache. Her work ensures timely delivery of technically sophisticated capabilities aligned with Army readiness priorities, bridging engineering requirements with compliant contracting practices under FAR and DFARS guidelines. Highsmith maintains strategic relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation and Alaska Aerospace Corp., partnering with industry leaders experienced in defense aerospace integration and systems engineering. She frequently engages vendors with proven expertise in military-grade avionics, flight control systems, and missile defense subsystems, fostering collaborative contract administration that emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical compliance. Her approach prioritizes risk mitigation through rigorous source selection and contract monitoring, ensuring alignment with operational needs and lifecycle sustainment goals. A strong advocate for small business participation, Highsmith consistently structures procurements with a 66.7% total small business set-aside rate, actively leveraging FAR 19.5 to expand opportunities for small disadvantaged, HUBZone, and veteran-owned firms. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic diversity, ensuring broad industry engagement while maintaining technical rigor. She routinely collaborates with small businesses capable of delivering niche aerospace components and specialized engineering services. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), 336412 (Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing), and 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services), reflecting deep expertise in both hardware fabrication and mission-critical software integration. She specializes in acquiring flight-critical systems, embedded avionics, and real-time data processing solutions essential to modern Army aviation and air defense architectures.