Shirley J. Bauer

Shirley J. Bauer serves as a Contract Specialist within the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisition strategies for advanced missile defense systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract management—from solicitation and evaluation to award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal regulations and alignment with MDA’s strategic objectives. She primarily handles high-stakes engineering and systems integration procurements critical to developing layered missile defense architectures, including midcourse and terminal-phase interception capabilities. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to field technologically superior, interoperable defense systems that protect U.S. and allied forces against evolving ballistic missile threats. Bauer maintains consistent and deep-working relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, as well as Jacobs Technology Inc. These partnerships are centered on the design, development, and integration of sensor networks, command and control systems, and guided interceptors. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term collaboration with industry leaders possessing proven technical expertise in hypersonics, radar modernization, and missile guidance systems, fostering innovation through structured performance-based contracting and risk-sharing mechanisms. Bauer’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside conditions. This underscores a strategic preference for leveraging the broadest possible industrial base to meet mission-critical performance requirements, rather than socioeconomic set-asides. While small business participation is not a primary contracting mechanism in her portfolio, she ensures compliance with all applicable small business subcontracting plan requirements as mandated under prime contracts. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), reflecting an intense specialization in systems engineering, technical analysis, and integration services for missile defense platforms. She routinely procures advanced R&D, prototyping, and test support services that enable the transition of emerging technologies from laboratory to operational deployment, with deep domain expertise in aerospace defense systems and mission-critical software engineering.