Christopher Connelly

About Christopher Connelly

I\'m a strategic procurement leader with a track record of delivering measurable results on complex, high-value federal contracts. Over the past decade, I\'ve managed over $1B in contract actions across NASA, the Department of Defense, and the United States Air Force. I currently oversee a $600M+ active portfolio at NASA Glenn Research Center.My expertise spans the full acquisition lifecycle. I achieved $180M in cost reductions as the designated Cost and Price Analyst on NASA Glenn Research Center\'s highest dollar value contract, the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) of the Lunar Gateway, I coordinate stakeholder groups across multiple directorates, and maintain 100% regulatory compliance in high-stakes environments.I hold FAC-C Level certification, a $10M Contracting Officer warrant, and have deep domain expertise in FAR, DFARS, and NASA regulations. I thrive in roles that require navigating complex regulatory frameworks, building consensus among diverse stakeholders, and mentoring emerging professionals- Contract portfolio management ($600M+) across CPFF, IDIQ, and FFP vehicles- Strategic cost and price analysis with proven cost avoidance results- Regulatory compliance and risk mitigation in aerospace and defense sectors- Leadership and operational excellence through quality oversight and process improvement- Cross-functional collaboration with technical, financial, legal, and executive stakeholdersI\'m passionate about driving procurement excellence through strategic cost management, regulatory compliance, and collaborative stakeholder engagement in support of critical aerospace and defense missions.

Experience

1. Contracting Officer Level Ii Warrant (10m Authority)

   NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

   Apr 2022 — Present · Glenn Research Center, OH, US

   Lead negotiator and business advisor responsible for all pre-award and post-award functions for a variety of supply, service, research and construction contracts for Office of Procurement- Manage $600M+ active contract portfolio including NASA Glenn Research Center\'s primary research and engineering services contract (GEARS,$433M) and environmental safety contract (ESHMA,$125M) spanning Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), and Firm Fixed Price (FFP) vehicles- Coordinate large cross-functional stakeholder groups including Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), financial personnel, legal, and technical experts across multiple directorates, and contractor management teams to ensure mission success- Conduct comprehensive contract file reviews providing quality assurance, regulatory compliance guidance, and mentorship to junior contracting professionals and procurement teams- Successfully transitioned contract administration from SHeMA-2 ($53M) to ESHMA, ensuring zero operational disruption to critical safety and mission assurance services- Lead operational management responsibilities including contract operations oversight, quality reviews, data call reporting, and division representation at Office of Procurement staff meetings

Education

• Cleveland State University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance, Operations, Strategy

• Cleveland State University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science/International Relations

Skills

• Passionate About Work
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Policy Analysis
• Market Research
• Editing
• Nonprofits
• Customer Support
• Government Contracting
• Critical Thinking
• Analysis
• Data Analysis
• Political Science
• Focused Execution
• Social Media
• International Development
• Management
• Contract Management
• Foreign Military Sales
• Customer Service
• Microsoft Word
• Statistics
• Intercultural Communication
• Training
• Interpersonal Communication Abilities
• International Relations
• Academic Writing
• Solutions Focused
• Report Writing
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Public Policy
• Live Broadcast
• Far
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking
• Strategist
• Leadership
• Radio Broadcasting
• Strategic Sourcing