Susan M Sutherland

Susan M. Sutherland serves as Branch Head for ONR Code 253, overseeing the planning, execution, and management of scientific and technical acquisitions in support of naval research and development missions. In this leadership role, she ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning contracting strategies with the Office of Naval Research’s strategic priorities in advanced technology development. Her portfolio primarily encompasses professional services contracts for research support, engineering analysis, and technical consulting, enabling the Navy to maintain technological superiority through innovation-driven partnerships. She plays a pivotal role in shaping acquisition pathways that balance mission urgency with regulatory rigor and fiscal responsibility. Sutherland’s contractor relationships are characterized by engagement with a broad spectrum of professional services firms specializing in scientific research, systems engineering, and technical advisory services. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, she consistently collaborates with firms possessing deep domain expertise in naval systems, defense R&D, and applied science. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, competitive bidding, and the selection of contractors with proven technical capabilities rather than reliance on sole-source or non-competitive mechanisms. Her set-aside preferences reflect a strong orientation toward open competition, with 93.9% of awards issued without set-aside designation. Nevertheless, she maintains a measured commitment to small business participation, allocating 6.1% of her acquisitions to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a strategic balance between maximizing competition and ensuring opportunities for qualified small businesses in specialized technical fields. Sutherland’s procurement focus centers on NAICS codes 541990 and 541690, indicating a primary emphasis on professional, scientific, and technical consulting services, including systems engineering, operational analysis, and research support. Additional emphasis is placed on engineering services (541330) and management consulting (541611), with targeted investments in professional training (611430). Her technical domain expertise spans defense R&D, advanced materials, autonomous systems, and naval operational concepts, making her a key conduit between scientific innovation and acquisition execution.