David A. Wright

David A. Wright serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he leads the acquisition of advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials critical to U.S. air and space dominance. His portfolio centers on research and development contracts that bridge fundamental science with operational capability, ensuring rapid transition of innovative propulsion solutions from lab to field. Wright manages complex, technically demanding procurements requiring deep engineering oversight, including long-term R&D partnerships, prototyping initiatives, and systems integration efforts aligned with the Department of the Air Force’s modernization priorities. He maintains sustained 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 reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven expertise in propulsion systems, adaptive flight controls, and advanced composite materials. Wright’s contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and iterative development cycles, often involving cooperative research agreements and cost-reimbursement contract types to accommodate high-risk, high-reward innovation. Wright’s acquisition portfolio reflects a 100% no set-aside preference, indicating a focus on full and open competition to ensure access to the most capable and technologically advanced solutions available in the market. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through socioeconomic set-asides, his contracts may still include subcontracting opportunities for qualified small businesses as part of prime contractor performance plans. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he acquires specialized engineering services, materials characterization, computational modeling, and experimental validation for next-generation propulsion architectures. His domain expertise spans scramjet systems, thermal protection materials, and adaptive propulsion control technologies essential to next-generation hypersonic platforms.