Tara Brandt

Tara Brandt serves as a secondary procurement professional within the Naval Air Warfare Center, supporting the acquisition of advanced naval aviation systems critical to next-generation air and maritime warfare capabilities. Her role involves facilitating the planning, solicitation, and administration of technical contracts aligned with the agency’s mission to develop, test, and evaluate mission-critical avionics, sensor systems, and command and control technologies. She works closely with senior contracting officers to ensure compliance with federal acquisition regulations and supports complex procurements spanning engineering services, electronic assembly, and aerospace component manufacturing, often involving high-precision, low-volume production environments. Brandt maintains consistent working relationships with key defense contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Jacobs Technology Inc., SAIC, Teya Support Services LLC, and Kranze Technology Solutions Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven expertise in defense-grade electronics, systems integration, and technical support services. Her procurement patterns emphasize long-term, performance-based contracting vehicles that prioritize technical reliability, cybersecurity compliance, and rapid prototyping cycles essential to naval aviation modernization. Her contracting activity reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 89.5% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions. While small business participation is limited, she supports targeted 8(a) and total small business set-asides at 5.3% each, demonstrating a balanced approach that prioritizes technical capability while maintaining compliance with socioeconomic goals. Brandt’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), 334418 (Printed Circuit Assembly), and 336419 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts), underscoring her expertise in acquiring advanced electronic subsystems, embedded avionics, and mission-critical hardware for airborne platforms. Her work directly supports the integration of next-generation sensors, navigation systems, and software-defined architectures into naval aircraft, requiring deep familiarity with defense-specific manufacturing standards and test protocols.