Curtis Liska

Curtis Liska serves as a key procurement professional within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate, supporting the FA8650 organization’s mission to advance aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and high-performance materials for air and space dominance. He manages complex technical acquisitions focused on research, development, and integration of next-generation propulsion systems, adaptive flight control technologies, and advanced functional materials. His portfolio centers on engineering services, computational modeling, and mission-critical R&D contracts that bridge fundamental science with operational capability, ensuring rapid transition from laboratory innovation to fielded systems. Liska maintains consistent working relationships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established defense contractors with deep expertise in propulsion systems, composite materials, and systems integration. His contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term collaboration with vendors capable of delivering high-fidelity simulation tools, prototyping services, and advanced manufacturing solutions for extreme-environment applications. His procurement pattern shows a strong preference for open competition, with 88.5% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions, indicating a focus on technical merit over socioeconomic classifications. While small business participation remains modest at 11.5%, it is primarily channeled through Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, suggesting targeted opportunities for qualified firms with proven capabilities in specialized aerospace domains. Liska’s primary NAICS focus lies in Other Computer Related Services (541519), reflecting heavy investment in computational physics, data analytics, and simulation software, followed by NAICS 511210 (software publishing) and 519130 (internet publishing). His acquisitions consistently demand expertise in high-fidelity modeling, materials science, and embedded systems, underscoring his technical specialization in digital engineering and advanced propulsion R&D.