Laura Ford
Groton,CT
Summary
Results-driven Operations and Program Management professional with 9 years of experience in U.S. Navy fleet operations and federal research contracting. Expertise includes procurement, facilities management, asset accountability, and budget tracking. Effectively engages stakeholders and enhances operational readiness while streamlining processes to support mission-critical operations in regulated environments.
Overview
2
2
years of post-secondary education
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Laboratory Operations Manager
Leidos
San Diego, USA
01.2024 - Current
- Serve as the primary operational liaison between Navy research personnel, government leadership, Leidos corporate departments, facilities organizations, procurement teams, safety representatives, and external vendors supporting a multidisciplinary Warfighter research department.
- Provide operational support for approximately six active research teams and multiple departmental support organizations, ensuring continuity of research operations, procurement activities, facility readiness, and administrative compliance.
- Manage end-to-end procurement actions including purchase requests, procurement request packages (PRRs), vendor coordination, receiving, reconciliation, invoice tracking, and compliance documentation.
- Execute purchasing authority utilizing corporate procurement systems and purchasing card programs to acquire mission-critical supplies, equipment, software, and services supporting ongoing research studies.
- Developed and implemented department-wide procurement tracking system, enhancing visibility into purchasing actions, funding utilization, approval workflows, and acquisition timelines across multiple research teams.
- Designed and implemented inventory accountability system for over 500 research, laboratory, and operational assets, increasing equipment visibility, accountability, and compliance with audit standards.
- Lead annual inventory audits, asset reconciliation efforts, and accountability reviews supporting departmental compliance requirements.
- Developed budget tracking systems supporting labor, travel, procurement, and task-order execution across multiple funding streams.
- Coordinated facilities maintenance, laboratory improvements, site projects, workspace modifications, safety initiatives, and infrastructure support activities as Building Monitor.
- Develop and maintain SOPs, workflow documentation, operational trackers, and process-improvement initiatives that streamline operations and reduce administrative burden.
- Collaborate daily with fiscal teams, R&D organizations, facilities personnel, procurement specialists, researchers, and senior leadership to ensure mission success.
- Naval Health Research Center, San Diego
Petty Officer Second Class EM2
United States Navy
, USA
02.2017 - 05.2024
- Supported maintenance and readiness operations for submarines and surface ships, ensuring operational capability of strategic fleet assets valued at $3.4 billion.
- Selected to maintain and support mission-critical submarine systems associated with billions of dollars in strategic military assets.
- Provided maintenance, logistics, weapons-support, health-services support, and operational coordination for homeported and deployed submarine forces.
- Maintained and supported mission-critical submarine systems associated with billions of dollars in strategic military assets.
- Coordinated maintenance schedules and technical repairs to enhance fleet readiness and ensure successful mission accomplishment.
- Worked directly with U.S. Navy submarine crews and allied military personnel supporting multinational maritime operations.
- Ensured mission-critical equipment and support services remained available to operational forces during deployment preparation and maintenance periods.
- Maintained accountability for large inventories of repair equipment supporting Pacific Fleet maintenance operations.
- Achieved exceptional equipment accountability and inventory accuracy through disciplined tracking, auditing, and reconciliation procedures.
- Served as Facilities liaison for all of Naval Base San Diego to support facilities maintenance operations and infrastructure readiness efforts.
- Coordinated maintenance ticket routing and communication between all associated naval organizations, contractors, and support personnel.
- Improved maintenance responsiveness and effectiveness, work-order completion visibility operational support processes.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology
National University
08.2026 - 09.2026
Associate of Science - Human Biology
National University
06.2024 - 01.2026
Skills
- Procurement management
- Asset Management
- Inventory Management
- Facilities Management
- Logistics management
- Operations Management
- Program Management
- Budget management
- Compliance
- Audit Readiness
- Vendor Management
- Asset tracking
- Inventory Control
- Process optimization
- Operational Systems
- Ivalua
- Costpoint
- Salesforce
- SharePoint
- Workday
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Quality Assurance
- Team Training
- Procedural development
- Research support
- Program administration
- Stakeholder management
- Procedural development
Core Strengths
- Operational Excellence: Lead complex programs, manage critical resources, and improve organizationalperformance across military and federal contracting environments.
- Stakeholder Leadership:Build partnerships across government, contractor, research, and vendororganizations to drive mission success and operational effectiveness.
- Program Execution: Manage procurement, facilities, inventory, compliance, safety, and readiness programs while maintaining accountability for high-value assets and operational resources.
- Leadership & Integrity: Known for professionalism, initiative, and mission-focused execution. Recognized for taking ownership of challenges, building collaborative relationships, and delivering results in demanding, highly regulated environments
Systems And Program Expertise
GEARS, Costpoint, Ivalua, Salesforce, 3M, SharePoint, DMLSS, Workday, Microsoft Office Suite, CIO Central, Procurement & Purchasing, Asset Accountability, Inventory Management, HAZMAT, Quality Assurance (QA), Safety Programs, Calibration Programs, Facilities Coordination, Emergency Preparedness.
Security Clearance
- Currently maintaining a Secret clearance
- Eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance
- Previously held a Secret/Top Secret clearance
Timeline
Bachelor of Science - Biology
National University
08.2026 - 09.2026
Associate of Science - Human Biology
National University
06.2024 - 01.2026
Laboratory Operations Manager
Leidos
01.2024 - Current
Petty Officer Second Class EM2
United States Navy
02.2017 - 05.2024