Craig S. Anken

Craig S. Anken serves as the Primary Technical Point of Contact for FA8750, the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RIK division under the Department of the Air Force, where he provides critical technical oversight for high-priority R&D acquisitions. In this role, he bridges scientific innovation with acquisition execution, ensuring that contract requirements align with cutting-edge aerospace and defense technology goals. He routinely engages in complex, science-driven procurements centered on autonomous systems, resilient communications, AI-enabled battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled technologies, guiding the technical evaluation of proposals and ensuring compliance with mission-critical performance standards. Anken maintains sustained partnerships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Eaton Corporation, Technergetics, LLC, and Caelight, Inc. These relationships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, with vendors frequently engaged in early-stage concept development, prototype integration, and transition-to-operations support. His procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor over cost alone, fostering long-term vendor engagement rooted in shared scientific objectives and rapid prototyping cycles. Anken’s portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of acquisitions classified as No Set-Aside, indicating a preference for selecting the most technically capable offeror regardless of socioeconomic status. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, his evaluations remain technically merit-based, allowing qualified small firms to compete on equal footing through full and open competition. His procurement activity is exclusively focused on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—reflecting a deep specialization in foundational science and engineering innovation. He procures advanced capabilities in free-space optical communications, machine learning for sensor fusion, radiation-hardened electronics, and quantum sensing systems, supporting the Air Force’s strategic imperatives in next-generation aerospace dominance.