Roy Lathan

Roy Lathan serves as a key procurement lead within the Director of Contracting office under the Department of the Navy, responsible for managing the acquisition of specialized communications equipment and command-and-control systems critical to maritime and expeditionary operations. His role centers on ensuring operational readiness through the timely procurement of secure, next-generation communications infrastructure, including encrypted audiovisual systems, tactical data links, and leased specialized machinery essential for deployed forces. He operates within a highly technical acquisition environment, aligning contract strategies with DoD modernization priorities and cybersecurity compliance standards such as NIST SP 800-171 and DFARS requirements. While specific contractor names are not disclosed in available records, Lathan maintains a vendor ecosystem dominated by small businesses, reflecting a deliberate and consistent preference for socioeconomic set-asides. His contracting patterns emphasize full small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, with no large business awards recorded, signaling a strong institutional commitment to fostering innovation and capacity within the small business base. He cultivates partnerships with firms possessing niche expertise in secure communications hardware, often engaging with 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB-certified vendors capable of meeting stringent military specifications. Lathan’s procurement focus is exclusively concentrated on NAICS 334290—Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing—indicating deep specialization in the design, integration, and sustainment of non-standardized, mission-critical communication devices. This includes secure radios, battlefield networking gear, encrypted video transmission systems, and custom-built command-and-control hardware tailored for naval and amphibious operations. His technical expertise lies in navigating the intersection of commercial off-the-shelf technology and military-grade ruggedization, ensuring acquisitions meet both operational demands and cybersecurity resilience standards without compromising agility or interoperability.