Cardin Crossland

Cardin Crossland serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where they play a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions that support cutting-edge space and aerospace research. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of procurement actions, Crossland specializes in securing technical services critical to advancing next-generation space systems, resilient computing architectures, and high-performance instrumentation. Their work directly enables the agency’s mission to accelerate innovation in space domain awareness, satellite communications, and autonomous space operations through rapid prototyping and foundational R&D. Crossland typically handles sole-source, competitive, and other non-sealed bid acquisitions for professional and scientific services, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning with strategic Air Force technology priorities. Crossland collaborates with a diverse range of contractors, primarily technical consulting firms and independent research organizations specializing in aerospace engineering and systems integration. While no single contractor dominates their portfolio, they consistently engage with firms possessing deep expertise in space systems architecture, propulsion modeling, and data analytics for space applications. Their working relationships are characterized by a focus on technical capability over volume, favoring vendors with proven experience in classified and sensitive space environments. Crossland fosters long-term partnerships with contractors who demonstrate agility, innovation, and adherence to DoD cybersecurity and data integrity standards. Crossland’s procurement activity reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued under non-set-aside authorities. There is no current use of 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic set-asides in their acquisition portfolio, indicating a focus on technical merit and mission-critical capability over socioeconomic criteria. This approach prioritizes mission readiness and technological superiority, aligning with the high-stakes nature of AFRL’s space research objectives. The majority of Crossland’s acquisitions fall under NAICS 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services), reflecting a heavy reliance on expert advisory services for space system design and performance analysis. A significant portion also falls under NAICS 541712, indicating active procurement of R&D services in physical and engineering sciences, particularly in propulsion, sensor development, and autonomous control systems. Their technical domain expertise centers on space systems engineering, advanced propulsion, and mission-critical instrumentation, ensuring the Air Force maintains technological dominance in the space domain.