A solid state lighting assembly comprising: a solid state lighting package; a heat sink having a front and a rear, the heat sink having an opening therethrough between the front and the rear; and a socket assembly coupled to the heat sink, the socket assembly comprising: a socket housing having an interior surface mounted to the front of the heat sink, the socket housing having an extension extending from the interior surface, the extension being received in the opening and extending at least partially through the heat sink, the extension having a cavity therein; and a socket contact held by the socket housing, the socket contact having a package mating end and a power termination end, the power termination end extending into the cavity of the extension such that the power termination end extends at least partially through the heat sink, the power termination end being configured to be terminated to a power conductor, the package mating end being mechanically and electrically coupled to the solid state lighting package to supply power to a solid state lighting device of the solid state lighting package, characterized in that the socket housing includes a receptacle that receives the lighting package which is held in the receptacle by an interference fit. a solid state lighting package; a heat sink having a front and a rear, the heat sink having an opening therethrough between the front and the rear; and a socket assembly coupled to the heat sink, the socket assembly comprising: a socket housing having an interior surface mounted to the front of the heat sink, the socket housing having an extension extending from the interior surface, the extension being received in the opening and extending at least partially through the heat sink, the extension having a cavity therein; and a socket contact held by the socket housing, the socket contact having a package mating end and a power termination end, the power termination end extending into the cavity of the extension such that the power termination end extends at least partially through the heat sink, the power termination end being configured to be terminated to a power conductor, the package mating end being mechanically and electrically coupled to the solid state lighting package to supply power to a solid state lighting device of the solid state lighting package, characterized in that the socket housing includes a receptacle that receives the lighting package which is held in the receptacle by an interference fit. a socket housing having an interior surface mounted to the front of the heat sink, the socket housing having an extension extending from the interior surface, the extension being received in the opening and extending at least partially through the heat sink, the extension having a cavity therein; and a socket contact held by the socket housing, the socket contact having a package mating end and a power termination end, the power termination end extending into the cavity of the extension such that the power termination end extends at least partially through the heat sink, the power termination end being configured to be terminated to a power conductor, the package mating end being mechanically and electrically coupled to the solid state lighting package to supply power to a solid state lighting device of the solid state lighting package, characterized in that the socket housing includes a receptacle that receives the lighting package which is held in the receptacle by an interference fit.