Robert Henson II

Robert Henson II serves as a key procurement lead at U.S. Coast Guard Base New Orleans (70Z029), responsible for managing facility infrastructure acquisitions critical to operational readiness and coastal resilience. He oversees the planning, solicitation, and award of contracts for shore-based infrastructure modernization, including building systems, utilities, and physical plant upgrades. His role ensures compliance with federal facility standards and supports the Coast Guard’s mission to sustain maritime safety and environmental stewardship through strategic capital investment in physical assets. Henson specializes in complex, mission-critical acquisitions involving construction, maintenance, and specialized industrial services. Henson maintains strong working relationships with a diverse pool of small business contractors, particularly those certified under socioeconomic programs aligned with the agency’s 100% small business set-aside policy. He consistently engages qualified vendors with expertise in shipyard infrastructure, electrical systems, and industrial surface treatments, fostering long-term partnerships built on technical proficiency and regulatory compliance. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous evaluation criteria, and collaborative vendor engagement to ensure high-quality deliverables under demanding operational timelines. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Henson directs nearly all acquisitions toward total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, prioritizing firms with expertise in niche industrial trades. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to equitable opportunity, with frequent awards to small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses capable of delivering specialized facility services. This approach not only fulfills statutory mandates but also strengthens regional economic resilience through targeted subcontracting and workforce development. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), reflecting the base’s core function as a maritime infrastructure hub. He also routinely procures electroplating and surface treatment services (332813), wood and millwork supplies (423310), and specialized electrical and machinery maintenance (238210, 811310). Henson’s technical expertise spans facility lifecycle management, corrosion control, and industrial maintenance systems, positioning him as a strategic advisor in sustaining mission-critical Coast Guard assets along the Gulf Coast.