William D. Gentry

William D. Gentry serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of critical naval aviation systems. He manages complex contracts for aircraft manufacturing, avionics integration, and mission-critical engineering services, ensuring alignment with the Navy and Marine Corps’ strategic modernization goals. His work directly enables the fielding and maintenance of carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft, weapons systems, and supporting logistics infrastructure, with a focus on delivering operational readiness through rigorous acquisition governance and technical oversight. Gentry maintains consistent contracting relationships with leading defense primes including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with them on high-priority programs involving rotary-wing platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and advanced sensor suites. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance-based contracting, and technical risk mitigation, often engaging contractors early in the requirements definition phase to ensure system interoperability and sustainment readiness. These partnerships reflect a reliance on industry leaders with proven capabilities in aerospace systems integration and defense-grade manufacturing. Gentry’s contracting portfolio exhibits no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on accessing the broadest possible industrial base to meet demanding technical specifications and urgent operational timelines, prioritizing capability and readiness over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation is not formally targeted through set-asides, he ensures compliance with all federal subcontracting reporting requirements and encourages prime contractors to include qualified small businesses in their supply chains. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) and 334511 (Aeronautical System and Instrument Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in airframe production, flight control systems, radar and electronic warfare components, and mission-critical avionics. He also oversees engineering services under 541330 to support systems integration, testing, and sustainment, demonstrating specialized knowledge in naval aviation technology domains and defense acquisition best practices.