Rowena Hardgrove

Rowena Hardgrove serves as a Purchasing Agent for the Commanding Officer (N63394) under the Department of the Navy, where she plays a critical role in securing mission-critical aerospace components, electronic warfare systems, and engineering services essential to sustaining naval aviation readiness. Her procurement activities directly support the modernization of aircraft avionics, secure communications infrastructure, and sensor technologies, ensuring operational capability across fleet platforms. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions under FAR Part 13 and Part 15 procedures, balancing speed and compliance to meet urgent operational timelines while adhering to federal contracting standards. Hardgrove maintains strategic relationships with prime contractors including AEROSPACE & COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC and LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION, partnering with industry leaders to deliver advanced electronic assemblies and integrated systems. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established defense contractors with proven track records in aerospace and defense electronics, while still actively engaging smaller vendors for niche technical services. She consistently collaborates with vendors capable of rapid prototyping, cybersecurity-hardened system integration, and field-deployable maintenance support. Her procurement strategy prioritizes small business participation, with 37.3% of awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, and a notable 1.7% allocated to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. While the majority of acquisitions remain open to all competitors, her deliberate use of set-asides demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding economic opportunity within the defense industrial base and fostering innovation from emerging defense suppliers. Her technical focus centers on NAICS 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services) and 811310 (Commercial and Industrial Machinery Repair), reflecting a demand for systems engineering, embedded software development, and specialized maintenance of avionics and electronic warfare equipment. She regularly procures mission-critical components such as signal processors, secure data links, and field-replaceable units, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of defense electronics, cybersecurity, and sustainment logistics.