Whitney West

Whitney West serves as the primary contracting lead for the FA8576 AFLCMC ESKC, a critical unit within the Department of the Air Force focused on advancing resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities. In this role, Whitney oversees the acquisition of next-generation PNT systems, including embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems (EGI), software-defined user equipment, and hardened avionics architectures designed for contested and degraded environments. They are instrumental in translating operational requirements from air, space, and cyber domains into technically sound procurement strategies that ensure system interoperability, cybersecurity compliance, and rapid fielding across expeditionary platforms. Whitney collaborates with a broad spectrum of defense aerospace contractors specializing in precision navigation, signal processing, and mission-critical electronics. While no single contractor dominates the portfolio, relationships are built with Tier 1 systems integrators and niche technology providers capable of delivering classified, high-assurance PNT hardware and firmware. Contracting patterns reflect a preference for performance-based, engineering-driven solicitations that emphasize rapid prototyping, open architecture standards, and modular scalable solutions. Whitney’s procurement activity is exclusively non-set-aside, with 100% of acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. This reflects the highly specialized nature of PNT technologies and the need for access to the broadest possible pool of qualified industrial partners with classified facility clearances and advanced manufacturing capabilities. While socioeconomic set-asides are not utilized, compliance with all federal acquisition regulations and small business subcontracting reporting remains strictly enforced. The primary NAICS classification is 334511, indicating deep focus on the design and manufacture of advanced navigation, guidance, and aeronautical systems. Whitney routinely procures ruggedized sensors, anti-jam antennas, secure timing modules, and software-defined radio platforms that support autonomous and networked operations in GPS-denied environments. Their expertise lies at the intersection of defense systems engineering and acquisition lifecycle management for mission-critical PNT infrastructure.