1Lt Matt Schneider

1Lt Matt Schneider supports the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (AFRL/PZL) in advancing next-generation aerospace propulsion and hypersonic technologies through strategic procurement of high-performance research and development services. As a key contracting professional within FA8650, he manages complex R&D acquisitions focused on propulsion system innovation, adaptive flight control architectures, and advanced functional materials. His work directly enables the Department of the Air Force’s mission to maintain air and space dominance by accelerating the transition of cutting-edge technologies from laboratory prototypes to operational capabilities. Schneider routinely handles sole-source and competitive research contracts under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) authority and other federal R&D authorities, ensuring technical rigor and mission alignment. He maintains established working relationships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES Inc., General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, technically intensive collaborations centered on propulsion system design, materials characterization, and hypersonics testing. Schneider prioritizes deep technical engagement with vendors who demonstrate proven expertise in high-temperature materials, combustion dynamics, and flight-critical system integration, fostering collaborative acquisition environments that mitigate technical risk and accelerate development cycles. Schneider’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside preferences. This approach underscores a mission-critical imperative to access the broadest possible pool of technical capability, particularly in domains where only a limited number of firms possess the specialized infrastructure and security clearances required. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through socioeconomic set-asides, his contracting actions remain compliant with all applicable small business goals and encourage subcontracting opportunities where technically feasible. His primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures advanced propulsion modeling, hypersonic wind tunnel testing, ceramic matrix composite development, and thermal protection system validation. His domain expertise spans gas turbine propulsion, scramjet integration, and high-enthalpy materials, ensuring acquisitions align with AFRL’s strategic roadmap for next-generation air and space power.