Simone L. Hanniford

Simone L. Hanniford serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (N61340), where she plays a pivotal role in acquiring advanced simulation, avionics, and immersive training systems critical to naval aviation readiness. She manages the full lifecycle of complex procurements—from requirements validation and market research to contract award and administration—ensuring alignment with Department of the Navy strategic objectives in pilot and aircrew training modernization. Her portfolio primarily encompasses integrated training systems, mission-critical software development, and high-fidelity flight simulators, all designed to enhance operational proficiency across maritime aviation platforms. Hanniford maintains strong, sustained relationships with key industry partners, most notably STRACON SERVICES GROUP, LLC, and FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC, both of which provide specialized training system integration, simulation modeling, and flight curriculum development services. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance-based outcomes, and technical compliance with military aviation standards. She routinely engages with contractors possessing deep domain expertise in avionics architecture, real-time emulation, and distributed training networks, fostering innovation through competitive yet stable vendor partnerships. Her procurement patterns reflect a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately one-third of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her acquisitions remain open to all competitors, she actively prioritizes small business participation, ensuring eligible firms have meaningful access to high-value training systems contracts. Her approach aligns with Navy mandates to broaden the industrial base while maintaining technical excellence. Though NAICS data is not currently available, her acquisitions consistently target advanced training technologies, including synthetic environments, virtual and augmented reality systems, and mission rehearsal tools. Her technical expertise spans avionics integration, human-machine interface design, and live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training architectures, positioning her as a key enabler of next-generation naval aviation readiness.