Rachel Johnston

Rachel Johnston serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, supporting the acquisition of mission-critical engineering and systems integration capabilities for U.S. Navy surface ships. She manages contracts focused on shipboard propulsion systems, damage control infrastructure, ballast systems, and industrial control networks, ensuring operational readiness through the procurement of advanced technical solutions. Her work directly enables the modernization and sustainment of naval platforms, aligning with the agency’s mandate to deliver reliable, high-performance maritime systems. She handles complex, technical acquisitions under FAR and DFARS guidelines, often coordinating with engineering and logistics teams to define performance-based requirements and evaluate technical proposals. Johnston maintains longstanding relationships with leading defense contractors including Fairbanks Morse, LLC, Leidos, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, G.S.E. Dynamics, Inc., and Kampi Components Co Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven expertise in marine propulsion, electronic integration, and specialized component manufacturing. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance accountability, technical rigor, and lifecycle support, fostering collaborative vendor relationships grounded in compliance and mission alignment. Her procurement portfolio is predominantly non-set-aside, with 80% of awards issued under full and open competition, reflecting the specialized nature of the systems procured. However, she consistently allocates 20% of opportunities to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a structured commitment to small business participation without compromising technical requirements. Johnston’s primary procurement focus is on NAICS 562213 (Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators), indicating a significant emphasis on shipboard environmental and waste management systems, alongside NAICS 238990 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors) for integrated installation and retrofit services. Her expertise lies in acquiring complex, engineered solutions that support naval platform sustainability, safety, and regulatory compliance.