Daniel Whitman

Daniel Whitman serves as a Project Engineer and Program Manager within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he leads the technical oversight and acquisition of advanced propulsion, hypersonics, and high-performance materials research programs. He bridges engineering innovation with procurement strategy, managing complex R&D contracts that translate laboratory breakthroughs into mission-ready aerospace systems. His acquisitions focus on foundational and applied research requiring deep technical expertise, particularly in propulsion system integration, adaptive flight control, and functional material development, ensuring alignment with the Air Force’s strategic imperatives for air and space dominance. Whitman maintains consistent partnerships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships are characterized by long-term, technically demanding collaborations centered on prototyping, systems integration, and materials characterization. He engages vendors with proven capabilities in high-temperature composites, turbine propulsion, and computational fluid dynamics, favoring contractors with demonstrated success in delivering high-risk, high-reward research outcomes under stringent military specifications. Whitman’s procurement portfolio exhibits no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a mission-driven emphasis on technical superiority and rapid capability insertion over socioeconomic targeting, prioritizing the most capable performers regardless of business size or certification status. While small business participation is not structurally mandated, vendors of all sizes are evaluated strictly on technical merit, system readiness, and past performance in advanced propulsion domains. His primary focus lies in NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures cutting-edge engineering services spanning hypersonic propulsion testing, additive manufacturing of metallic and ceramic composites, and advanced thermal management systems. His technical domain expertise centers on materials science, propulsion system architecture, and flight-environment simulation, ensuring that funded research directly supports next-generation air and space propulsion capabilities.