Executive Search Success Story: Placing a VP of Supply Chain to Strengthen Compliance and Program Supply Performance for a Defense Electronics Contractor

How JRG Partners executed a confidential North American executive search that equipped a defense electronics and mission systems contractor with the VP of Supply Chain and compliance leadership required to resolve government purchasing system findings, secure supply for multiple programs of record, mitigate counterfeit and foreign-source risk, and restore confidence with prime contractor and government customers.

The Challenge

A privately held defense electronics contractor supplying mission systems to prime contractors and directly to government customers had received significant findings in a government purchasing system review, placing its approved purchasing system at risk. At the same time, electronic component obsolescence and foreign-source exposure were threatening delivery on three programs of record, and prime contractor customers were escalating supply chain risk concerns. The supply chain leader had departed, and procurement operated without the documentation discipline government contracting requires. Executive leadership identified several critical vulnerabilities threatening the business:

• Government purchasing system review findings with a corrective action deadline and approval at risk
• Three programs of record exposed to component obsolescence and single-source electronic suppliers
• Counterfeit part avoidance and foreign-source controls below customer and regulatory expectations
• Procurement documentation, source justification, and government property practices inconsistent across programs
• No program-aligned supply planning connecting contract milestones to material availability
• Prime contractor and government customers requesting supply chain risk management evidence

Recognizing that purchasing system approval and program delivery required an experienced defense supply chain executive, the CEO and board engaged JRG Partners to recruit a VP of Supply Chain, supported by a Director of Procurement Compliance & Government Property and a Director of Program Supply Chain & Component Risk. The company required an executive search partner with deep defense contracting expertise and access to supply chain leaders who had remediated purchasing systems and secured program supply under government oversight.

Why They Chose JRG Partners

Defense Contracting Supply Chain Expertise

JRG Partners possesses deep recruiting expertise across defense prime and subcontractors, defense electronics manufacturers, and government contracting organizations, including supply chain, procurement compliance, and program supply leadership. This domain knowledge ensured an immediate understanding of purchasing system requirements, component risk management, and program-aligned supply planning.

Compliance Remediation Experience

Our team specializes in identifying supply chain leaders who have remediated government purchasing system findings, built compliant procurement organizations, and implemented counterfeit avoidance and supply chain risk programs that satisfy customers and regulators.

Program Delivery Alignment

JRG Partners has extensive experience serving defense contractors on program-critical placements, with a clear understanding of contract milestones, customer confidence, and the urgency of supply chain leadership during corrective action.

Our Executive Search Strategy

Phase 1 — Compliance & Program Supply Review

Our consultants partnered directly with the CEO, CFO, contracts leadership, and program directors to review purchasing system findings, program material risk, component obsolescence exposure, and customer concerns. This review defined a VP of Supply Chain profile combining procurement compliance remediation, program supply assurance, and supply chain risk leadership.

Phase 2 — Talent Identification & Mapping

Our research team performed an extensive talent mapping initiative targeting supply chain leaders at defense primes and subcontractors, defense electronics manufacturers, and government contracting organizations who had led documented purchasing system remediations and program supply recoveries. Over 270 executives were systematically assessed across these sectors.

Phase 3 — Candidate Engagement

Priority during outreach was given to leaders with a documented history of achieving purchasing system approval, implementing counterfeit avoidance and foreign-source controls, resolving component obsolescence on programs of record, and building program-aligned supply planning. Only candidates meeting these strict performance baselines advanced.

Phase 4 — Selection Process

Finalists presented a purchasing system remediation and program supply plan to the CEO, board, and contracts leadership, completed structured leadership assessments, and underwent reference verification focused on quantified compliance, program delivery, and customer outcomes.

Key Outcomes

• 270+ defense contracting supply chain and procurement leader profiles mapped across North America.
• Placed a VP of Supply Chain with proven purchasing system remediation experience in 46 days.
• Achieved government purchasing system approval within the corrective action period.
• Eliminated material risk on three programs of record with no missed deliveries.
• Implemented counterfeit avoidance and supply chain risk programs satisfying customers and regulators.
• Closed prime contractor risk reviews and secured additional program awards.