Darlene White

Darlene White serves as a Contract Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she plays a pivotal role in securing advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. She specializes in negotiating complex research and development contracts focused on next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance functional materials. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to accelerate the transition of cutting-edge engineering solutions from laboratory innovation to operational capability, ensuring timely and compliant acquisition of mission-critical R&D services. Darlene manages the full lifecycle of technical acquisitions, from solicitation through contract execution, with a strong emphasis on technical merit, risk mitigation, and performance-based outcomes. She maintains long-standing, high-trust relationships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, iterative contract refinement, and sustained engagement on multi-year R&D programs. Darlene consistently works with industry leaders possessing specialized expertise in propulsion systems, adaptive flight controls, and advanced materials, ensuring the Air Force retains access to the most capable technical talent and proprietary innovations. Darlene’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside classifications. She does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, instead prioritizing technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences. Her approach aligns with the high-stakes, non-replaceable nature of the technologies being acquired, where performance and domain expertise are paramount. Her primary procurement focus is squarely on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology). She procures advanced engineering services spanning computational fluid dynamics, material science, thermal protection systems, and propulsion integration, working closely with firms that possess classified clearance, proprietary test facilities, and deep aerospace systems expertise.