Zelda Rappuhn

Zelda Rappuhn serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock (N00167), where she plays a critical role in executing complex acquisitions to support the development, testing, and evaluation of advanced naval maritime systems. Her work directly enables the agency’s mission to enhance vessel stealth, propulsion efficiency, and sensor integration through technically demanding procurements. Rappuhn routinely manages contracts for engineering services, specialized testing, and niche manufacturing, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning with Navy innovation priorities. She handles a mix of competitive and sole-source acquisitions, often involving classified or controlled technical data, and works closely with technical evaluators to ensure contract requirements reflect operational needs. Rappuhn maintains enduring relationships with key industry partners including BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Goodrich Corp, and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, reflecting a preference for established defense contractors with proven capabilities in naval systems integration. She also collaborates with specialized joint ventures such as CB Design & Huitt Zollars and niche performers like Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research, indicating a balanced approach that leverages both large-system integrators and highly specialized technical vendors. Her contracting patterns suggest a focus on long-term technical partnerships rather than transactional engagements. While the majority of her acquisitions are conducted without set-asides—reflecting the technical complexity and limited vendor base in her domain—Rappuhn consistently supports small business participation, with approximately 15.4% of her awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her socioeconomic contracting aligns with Navy goals to broaden industrial base participation without compromising mission-critical performance requirements. Her procurement focus is heavily concentrated in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), with significant activity in 334517 (Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing) and related technical services. She procures advanced materials testing, signature management systems, and specialized radiation-hardened components, demonstrating deep expertise in naval signature reduction, sensor survivability, and high-performance maritime engineering domains.