Wendy M. Hess

Wendy M. Hess serves as a Contract Negotiator responsible for managing complex acquisition processes within the aerospace and defense sector. Her role centers on negotiating terms, evaluating proposals, and ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations for aircraft manufacturing contracts. She plays a critical part in advancing the agency’s mission by securing high-performance, mission-critical aviation systems through transparent, competitive, and risk-managed contracting practices. Her acquisitions typically involve full lifecycle support for military and civil aircraft platforms, including airframe assembly, propulsion systems, avionics integration, and related technical services. Wendy collaborates closely with prime contractors and Tier 1 suppliers specializing in aerospace manufacturing, often engaging with firms possessing AS9100 certification and ITAR compliance. Her working relationships are characterized by a focus on technical capability, past performance, and supply chain resilience. She routinely engages in pre-solicitation outreach to clarify requirements and align vendor capabilities with operational needs, fostering collaborative partnerships that prioritize innovation and quality assurance throughout contract execution. Wendy’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions issued without set-aside designations. While she does not routinely utilize socioeconomic programs such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her approach emphasizes merit-based selection grounded in technical excellence and cost-effectiveness, ensuring mission readiness through the broadest possible pool of qualified industry participants. Her primary focus is on NAICS 336411 — Aircraft Manufacturing — encompassing the procurement of manned and unmanned aircraft systems, structural components, flight control systems, and associated maintenance and sustainment services. She possesses deep technical familiarity with aerospace engineering standards, production line validation, and defense acquisition lifecycle phases, making her a key advisor in evaluating complex technical proposals and ensuring contractual deliverables meet stringent performance benchmarks.