Catherine Stropki

Cathie Stropki serves as an Agreements Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she plays a pivotal role in structuring and executing complex research and development agreements to advance next-generation aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and high-performance materials. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to sustain U.S. air and space dominance by facilitating technical collaborations that bridge fundamental science and operational capability. She specializes in negotiating prime contracts under FAR and DFARS frameworks, with a focus on cost-reimbursement, cost-sharing, and cooperative research agreements that align with DoD innovation priorities. Stropki maintains consistent working relationships with leading aerospace and materials technology providers, including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect a pattern of engagement with established industry leaders possessing deep expertise in propulsion systems, adaptive flight controls, and advanced material synthesis. Her negotiation approach emphasizes technical alignment, intellectual property management, and performance-based outcomes, fostering long-term collaborations that accelerate technology transition from lab to field. Her procurement portfolio shows no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of agreements awarded under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on accessing the highest-capability technical resources available, prioritizing mission-critical performance over socioeconomic criteria. While small business participation is not formally targeted, her agreements may still involve subcontracting arrangements that support broader industry engagement. Stropki’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), where she secures advanced propulsion modeling, computational fluid dynamics, and materials characterization services. She also procures specialized manufacturing capabilities under NAICS 331313 and 325110, including high-purity aluminum feedstock and petrochemical-derived thermal protection systems. Her domain expertise spans hypersonic vehicle systems, ceramic matrix composites, and fuel-efficient turbine architectures, making her a key enabler of the Air Force’s propulsion modernization strategy.