Dan Griffith

Dan Griffith serves as a key procurement professional at NASA Glenn Research Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance next-generation aeronautics and space propulsion technologies. He manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions focused on engineering services, research and development in physical sciences, and specialized aerospace systems, including thermal management, fluid dynamics, and fission surface power components. His work directly enables critical R&D initiatives in extreme-environment materials and high-efficiency power systems essential for lunar and planetary exploration. Griffith ensures that procurement activities align with NASA’s technical priorities, balancing innovation with regulatory compliance and mission-critical performance standards. He maintains consistent partnerships with a core group of specialized contractors, including Troy Sierra JV LLC, Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and Electronic Fluorocarbons, LLC, each of which provides niche capabilities in propulsion subsystems, advanced instrumentation, and cryogenic fluid handling. These relationships reflect a preference for technically sophisticated vendors with proven expertise in aerospace-grade systems, often requiring stringent qualification and testing protocols. Griffith’s contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term vendor collaboration to support sustained development cycles. His procurement strategy prioritizes open competition, with 75% of awards issued without set-aside designations, while maintaining a deliberate 25% allocation to 8(a) certified small businesses. This balance reflects a commitment to fostering innovation through small business participation without compromising mission-critical technical requirements. He actively leverages the 8(a) program to cultivate capable emerging vendors in high-tech aerospace domains, ensuring a resilient supplier base for future mission needs. Griffith’s primary NAICS focus areas—Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing, Engineering Services, Research and Development in Physical Sciences, and Janitorial Services—reveal a unique blend of high-tech and operational support needs. He procures precision fluid systems, advanced thermal control hardware, and mission-critical R&D services, while also ensuring facility integrity through specialized janitorial contracts tailored to cleanroom and hazardous material environments. His expertise spans both cutting-edge propulsion engineering and the foundational infrastructure that enables it.