Samantha D. Rye

Samantha Rye serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a critical role in executing the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of naval aviation systems. Responsible for managing complex contract actions across the full spectrum of procurement phases—from requirements validation and source selection to contract award and administration—she ensures alignment with Department of the Navy strategic priorities in air superiority and fleet modernization. Her portfolio primarily encompasses contracts for aircraft platforms, avionics, weapons integration, and mission-critical logistics support, with a strong emphasis on technical compliance and lifecycle cost accountability. Rye maintains consistent, high-volume contracting relationships with industry leaders such as Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with prime contractors who deliver advanced aerospace systems and integrated sustainment solutions. Her working model emphasizes long-term collaboration with vendors possessing deep domain expertise in carrier-based and expeditionary aviation platforms, often coordinating technical evaluations and performance-based acquisition strategies to ensure operational readiness and system interoperability. While the majority of her acquisitions are conducted under full and open competition (88.2%), she demonstrates a deliberate commitment to small business participation, with 11.8% of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Her socioeconomic contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach—prioritizing capability and readiness while actively enabling qualified small businesses to contribute to the naval aviation industrial base. Her procurement focus is heavily concentrated in NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), reflecting her work on air wing integration and carrier-based system sustainment, complemented by significant activity in engineering services (541330) and aircraft component manufacturing (336413). She specializes in procuring mission-critical hardware, avionics upgrades, and technical support services essential to maintaining the Navy’s aerial combat and surveillance capabilities.