Alan C Struckman

Alan C. Struckman serves as a Contract Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he plays a pivotal role in securing advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. He specializes in negotiating complex, high-stakes contracts for next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight components, and mission-critical materials research. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to accelerate the transition of fundamental scientific breakthroughs into operational capabilities, often involving long-term R&D partnerships and technical performance-based acquisition strategies. Struckman routinely handles sole-source, cost-reimbursement, and other non-competitive contract types requiring deep technical review and risk mitigation. He maintains sustained working relationships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, each recognized for expertise in propulsion systems, adaptive flight controls, and high-temperature composite materials. His negotiation patterns reflect a preference for established technical partners with proven capabilities in defense aerospace, often engaging vendors through long-term base contracts and research task orders. These relationships are characterized by collaborative engineering integration, iterative prototype development, and rigorous technical validation protocols. Struckman’s contracting activity is exclusively non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects the highly specialized, mission-critical nature of the technologies procured, where technical superiority and proven performance outweigh socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in his portfolio, vendors of all sizes must demonstrate technical maturity and readiness to meet stringent DoD performance standards. His procurement focus centers on advanced aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and functional materials, aligning with NAICS categories such as 336411 (Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing) and 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences). He routinely acquires high-performance composites, thermal protection systems, and integrated propulsion test hardware, requiring deep domain knowledge in aerothermodynamics, materials science, and propulsion system integration.