Alec M. Thompson

Alec M. Thompson serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s FA8750 Rik office, driving the acquisition of foundational research and development services critical to next-generation aerospace and defense systems. He specializes in securing advanced scientific capabilities in physical and engineering sciences, with a focus on autonomous systems, resilient free-space optical communications, AI-enabled battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled technologies. His portfolio centers on contract vehicles that enable rapid innovation, including basic and applied research contracts, cooperative agreements, and other transaction authorities designed to accelerate technology maturation from lab to field. Thompson operates at the intersection of scientific discovery and mission-critical procurement, ensuring that cutting-edge R&D aligns with Air Force strategic imperatives. Thompson maintains consistent partnerships with leading defense and aerospace R&D contractors, including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Eaton Corporation, Technergetics, and Caelight, Inc. These relationships are characterized by long-term, mission-aligned collaboration rather than transactional procurement, often involving complex technical proposals and iterative prototyping. His contracting approach emphasizes technical excellence and innovation capacity, favoring firms with demonstrated expertise in high-risk, high-reward science and engineering domains. He frequently engages with contractors capable of delivering integrated solutions across multiple technical disciplines, ensuring cross-domain synergy in emerging capabilities. Thompson’s acquisition portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a deliberate strategy to prioritize technical merit and capability over socioeconomic preferences, enabling access to the broadest possible pool of qualified performers with advanced R&D infrastructure. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, his contracting patterns do not preclude qualified small firms from competing on equal footing based on technical superiority. His primary procurement activity is concentrated under NAICS 541715, encompassing research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences. He procures services related to advanced materials, signal processing, autonomous control architectures, quantum sensing, and optical communication systems—domains requiring deep technical expertise and specialized laboratory capabilities. His work ensures the Air Force maintains technological dominance through foundational scientific innovation.