Alan Kerrick

Alan Kerrick serves as Principal Engineer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he leads technical evaluation and acquisition strategy for advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials. His role bridges engineering innovation with procurement execution, ensuring that R&D initiatives align with operational requirements for next-generation air and space dominance. Kerrick oversees the solicitation, technical assessment, and award of complex contracts for experimental hardware, computational modeling, and materials characterization, often involving multidisciplinary teams and prototype development under FAR Part 35 and 36 frameworks. He maintains consistent partnerships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit AeroSystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships are characterized by long-term technical collaboration, with vendors frequently engaged in phased development efforts—from basic research to subscale testing and integration. Kerrick prioritizes vendors with proven expertise in propulsion system design, adaptive flight control algorithms, and advanced composite manufacturing, fostering partnerships grounded in technical rigor and iterative prototyping. Kerrick’s procurement portfolio exhibits no set-aside preferences, with 100% of acquisitions conducted as full and open competition. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the technologies under development, where only a limited pool of industry participants possesses the requisite classified capabilities, facilities, and security clearances. While small business participation is not formally prioritized, all vendors must demonstrate technical maturity and mission-critical readiness. His primary focus lies in NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures advanced propulsion subsystems, hypersonic test articles, thermal protection systems, and high-temperature structural materials. His technical domain spans gas turbine innovation, scramjet integration, additive manufacturing of metallic and ceramic composites, and predictive materials performance modeling under extreme environments.