Curt Grigsby

Curt Grigsby serves as Program Manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he leads the strategic acquisition of advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials. Responsible for end-to-end contract lifecycle management, he ensures that research and development initiatives align with national air and space dominance objectives. His portfolio primarily encompasses fundamental and applied R&D contracts under NAICS 541715, focusing on propulsion system prototyping, adaptive flight control architectures, and next-generation thermal management materials. Grigsby works closely with engineering teams to translate technical requirements into solicitation strategies that prioritize innovation, technical feasibility, and rapid technology transition. Grigsby maintains consistent partnerships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships are characterized by long-term, mission-critical collaborations centered on high-risk, high-reward propulsion and materials research. He favors established aerospace primes and specialized materials developers with proven capabilities in hypersonics, combustion dynamics, and advanced composites, often structuring contracts to enable iterative development and rapid prototyping under Other Transaction Authority or basic ordering agreements. Grigsby’s procurement activity reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside conditions. This underscores a mission-driven emphasis on technical excellence and capability readiness over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing the most qualified performers regardless of business size or certification status. While small business participation is not structurally mandated, vendors are evaluated solely on technical merit and past performance. His primary technical domain is research and development in physical and engineering sciences, with deep expertise in propulsion system design, hypersonic aerothermodynamics, and advanced material integration. He procures services ranging from computational fluid dynamics modeling and wind tunnel testing to the fabrication of ceramic matrix composites and metallic thermal protection systems, ensuring the Air Force remains at the forefront of next-generation propulsion innovation.