Cheryl A. Loper

Cheryl Loper serves as a Senior Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s FA8651 Rwk office, where she leads the acquisition of high-priority aerospace and defense research and development initiatives. Responsible for managing complex R&D contracts, she plays a pivotal role in advancing the Department of the Air Force’s strategic goals in autonomy, hypersonics, and space systems. Her portfolio centers on foundational scientific innovation, ensuring that cutting-edge technologies transition from laboratory prototypes to operational capabilities. She routinely handles competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements under FAR Part 35 and 37, with a focus on technical services and engineering solutions requiring specialized scientific expertise. Loper maintains a consistent working relationship with Concurrent Real-Time, Inc., a key contractor specializing in real-time simulation, embedded systems, and mission-critical software integration for defense applications. Her procurement approach favors established technical partners with proven capabilities in aerospace modeling, infrared scene projection, and guided missile system development. These partnerships are characterized by long-term collaboration, technical alignment, and performance-based contract structures that emphasize innovation and rapid prototyping. Loper’s acquisition strategy reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a deliberate focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic categorization, prioritizing mission-critical performance over programmatic diversity targets. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, vendors of all sizes compete on technical superiority and demonstrated expertise. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in Physical and Engineering Sciences) and 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing). She procures advanced systems including autonomous control architectures, hypersonic test instrumentation, and space vehicle avionics, requiring deep domain knowledge in physics-based modeling, signal processing, and systems integration for air and space dominance missions.