1Lt Cole C Doupe

1Lt Cole C. Doupe serves as a procurement professional within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (AFRL/PZL), supporting critical acquisitions for advanced aerospace propulsion, hypersonic systems, and high-performance materials research. Responsible for executing complex research and development contracts, he plays a pivotal role in translating cutting-edge engineering requirements into actionable procurement strategies that accelerate technology transition from lab to field. His acquisitions primarily focus on prototype development, materials characterization, and integrated propulsion system testing, ensuring alignment with the Department of the Air Force’s strategic imperatives for air and space dominance. Doupe maintains sustained working relationships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established defense aerospace contractors with proven expertise in propulsion systems, composite manufacturing, and flight control technologies. His contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term collaboration with vendors capable of delivering high-risk, high-reward innovations under tight developmental timelines. His procurement portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on full and open competition, with no set-asides utilized across his awarded contracts. This pattern indicates a strategic focus on securing the most technically capable solutions from the broadest possible industrial base, prioritizing mission-critical performance over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally structured in his acquisitions, the nature of his projects often involves subcontracting to specialized firms within the supply chain. Doupe’s acquisitions center on advanced propulsion technologies, adaptive flight control systems, and next-generation functional materials, aligning with NAICS categories related to aerospace product and parts manufacturing and scientific R&D services. His domain expertise spans turbine engine development, hypersonic vehicle integration, and high-temperature composite materials, making him a key liaison between AFRL’s technical teams and industry partners driving the future of air and space propulsion.