Tonya L Heyward

Tonya L. Heyward serves as a key procurement professional within the W6QK Acc-APG Cont Ct Wash Ofc, a Department of the Army office dedicated to advancing critical C5ISR capabilities for land and expeditionary forces. She manages the acquisition of advanced electro-optic/infrared sensor systems, precision navigation and guidance technologies, and ruggedized power generation solutions that enhance battlefield situational awareness and operational resilience. Her portfolio centers on research, development, and manufacturing contracts aligned with the Army’s modernization priorities, ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical technologies to warfighters. She operates within a high-technical, fast-paced acquisition environment requiring deep domain expertise in defense electronics and systems integration. Heyward maintains a consistent working relationship with Cummins Power Generation Inc., a primary contractor for ruggedized, mission-ready power systems essential to field-deployable C5ISR platforms. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical compliance, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors capable of delivering high-reliability, environmentally hardened hardware under austere conditions. While Cummins is the dominant contractor, her portfolio reflects a preference for established defense industrial base suppliers with proven track records in military-grade engineering and logistics support. Heyward’s acquisition portfolio exhibits no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects the technical complexity and specialized nature of the systems procured, where only a limited number of vendors possess the requisite certifications, facilities, and engineering capabilities to meet stringent military performance standards. Her approach prioritizes mission readiness over socioeconomic set-asides, aligning with the urgent operational needs of expeditionary forces. Her primary NAICS focus areas include research and development in physical and engineering sciences (541712 and 541715), as well as manufacturing of precision navigation, guidance, and electro-optic systems (334511 and 334519). She procures advanced sensor arrays, inertial measurement units, thermal imaging systems, and expeditionary power solutions—technologies integral to modernized soldier systems and unmanned platforms. Her expertise lies at the intersection of defense R&D and mission-critical hardware production.