Shannon Summers

Shannon Summers serves as the primary contracting lead for the Naval Air Warfare Center Air Division, overseeing the acquisition of advanced aviation systems critical to naval air superiority and fleet readiness. Responsible for managing complex technical procurements, Summers specializes in engineering services, communications equipment, and research and development contracts that support the integration of next-generation avionics, electronic warfare suites, and mission-critical aircraft subsystems. Their work directly enables the modernization of airborne sensor architectures and the sustainment of legacy platforms, ensuring operational continuity across the Navy’s aviation fleet. Summers maintains strategic partnerships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including SABRE SYSTEMS, LLC, THE BOEING COMPANY, SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC., and ONTIC ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING, INC. These relationships reflect a balanced approach to leveraging large prime contractors for system integration while fostering collaboration with specialized engineering and technical service providers. The contracting patterns indicate a preference for established industry partners with proven expertise in airborne systems, communications, and systems engineering. A strong commitment to small business participation is evident in Summers’ procurement strategy, with 75% of acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate effort to expand opportunities for small businesses in high-technology domains, ensuring diverse innovation and workforce development within the naval aviation supply chain. The consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a proactive approach to socioeconomic contracting goals. The primary technical focus areas are NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), NAICS 334220 (Radio and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing), and NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in Physical and Engineering Sciences). These categories highlight expertise in avionics design, RF and communications systems development, and applied research for airborne platforms, aligning closely with the Division’s mission to advance naval air capabilities through cutting-edge engineering and systems integration.