Sophia Somsen

Sophia Somsen serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWC Dahlgren), supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to advance integrated warfighting systems through research, development, test, and evaluation. She manages complex acquisitions in advanced sensors, command and control platforms, electronic warfare systems, and embedded computing technologies, ensuring alignment with naval operational requirements. Her work directly enables the modernization of surface ship combat systems and networked battle environments, focusing on high-technical-risk, mission-critical R&D initiatives that bridge innovation and fielded capability. Somsen maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including TEX-TECH ENGINEERED COMPOSITES, LLC for advanced materials integration, TATITLEK GOVERNMENT SERVICES, INC. for systems engineering and technical assistance, 3DB LABS INC for additive manufacturing solutions, WASTE REMOVAL USA, LLC for environmental compliance support, and BOWHEAD PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS, LLC for programmatic and logistics services. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term, performance-based partnerships with firms possessing deep domain expertise in naval systems, often requiring security clearances and specialized engineering certifications. Somsen’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a preference for technical capability over socioeconomic criteria, prioritizing mission readiness and system interoperability above traditional small business set-asides. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, vendors must still meet stringent technical and compliance standards regardless of size. Her primary NAICS classification is 541715, reflecting exclusive focus on research and development in physical and engineering sciences. She procures cutting-edge technologies including signal processing systems, radar countermeasures, real-time embedded software, and secure communications architectures, demonstrating deep expertise in defense R&D procurement within the naval electronics and combat systems domain.