Vera G Carroll

Vera G. Carroll serves as Branch Head for ONR Code 253, overseeing the planning, execution, and management of scientific and technical acquisitions for the Office of Naval Research. In this leadership capacity, she directs a portfolio of research and development contracts critical to advancing naval innovation in physical sciences, engineering, and advanced computing. Her role is central to translating strategic naval priorities into actionable procurement initiatives, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and national defense technology goals. She routinely manages complex, high-technical-risk procurements involving university research consortia, defense contractors, and specialized technology providers. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Carroll’s procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms specializing in custom software development, systems engineering, and experimental research services. Her working relationships are characterized by long-term collaboration with technical partners capable of delivering agile, mission-critical solutions under flexible contracting vehicles such as Other Transaction Authorities and basic ordering agreements. She fosters partnerships that prioritize innovation, rapid prototyping, and technical adaptability over traditional fixed-price models. Carroll’s contracting portfolio demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 86.5% of awards issued without set-asides, reflecting the technical complexity and specialized nature of the work. However, she maintains a meaningful commitment to small business participation, with 13.5% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, primarily supporting firms with expertise in computational research and software development. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 (R&D in physical and engineering sciences) and 541511 (custom computer programming), underscoring her technical domain expertise in computational modeling, autonomous systems, and advanced software architectures. She also regularly procures services from academic institutions and technology wholesalers to support experimental infrastructure and specialized hardware integration, reinforcing a multidisciplinary approach to naval R&D acquisition.