Judy Carrodeguas - Office of International and Interagency Relations - NASA Headquarters

Aaron Weaver serves as the Project Executive for the OSAM-1 mission within NASA Headquarters’ Space Technology Mission Directorate, where he leads the strategic planning and acquisition of advanced space technologies critical to in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. In this role, he oversees the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for high-priority technology demonstrations, ensuring alignment with NASA’s long-term goals for autonomous robotic systems, in-orbit infrastructure, and next-generation propulsion. His acquisitions typically involve complex, high-risk engineering systems requiring rapid prototyping, systems integration, and mission validation, often spanning multiple contract vehicles including Other Transaction Authorities and Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity instruments. Weaver collaborates closely with a diverse ecosystem of aerospace prime contractors, research institutions, and innovative small firms specializing in robotics, AI-driven autonomy, and space-rated hardware. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, his procurement pattern reflects a preference for mission-critical partnerships with organizations possessing deep expertise in space system development, particularly those capable of delivering modular, scalable technologies under tight technical and schedule constraints. His approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and risk-sharing mechanisms to accelerate innovation. Weaver’s contracting portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, reflecting the nature of OSAM-1’s technically demanding requirements and the limited pool of qualified entities capable of executing such advanced space systems. This does not indicate a lack of small business engagement; rather, it signals a focus on capability over socioeconomic classification, with small businesses often participating as subcontractors or through collaborative R&D initiatives. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS categories related to aerospace manufacturing, robotic system development, and advanced materials engineering. He routinely acquires cutting-edge technologies including robotic manipulators, autonomous rendezvous and docking systems, in-space additive manufacturing hardware, and high-reliability space electronics—domains requiring deep expertise in spacecraft systems engineering and mission assurance protocols.