David B Stratmoen

David B. Stratmoen serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where he leads the acquisition of advanced space and aerospace technologies critical to U.S. national security. Responsible for end-to-end contract management, he specializes in procuring high-performance propulsion systems, resilient space computing architectures, and next-generation instrumentation for autonomous satellite operations. His work directly supports the division’s mission to accelerate innovation in space domain awareness, secure communications, and rapid prototyping of next-generation space systems, ensuring the Department of the Air Force maintains technological superiority in contested orbital environments. Stratmoen collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense primes, research institutions, and specialized engineering firms engaged in rocket propulsion, hypersonics, and space-based sensor development. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, his contracting patterns reflect a preference for partners with proven expertise in classified space programs, advanced materials, and real-time data processing systems. He fosters long-term, performance-based relationships with vendors capable of meeting stringent technical and security requirements, often utilizing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) mechanisms to enable agile development cycles. Stratmoen’s contracting approach prioritizes full and open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted without set-asides. This reflects the highly technical, classified, and mission-critical nature of the capabilities he procures, where specialized expertise and national security clearances often preclude participation by small business set-aside programs. While socioeconomic preferences are not applied, he ensures all procurements comply with federal acquisition regulations and maintain rigorous oversight for mission-critical outcomes. His primary technical focus lies in NAICS categories related to aerospace product and parts manufacturing, scientific research and development, and defense electronics. He consistently acquires advanced propulsion test hardware, radiation-hardened computing modules, autonomous guidance systems, and high-fidelity space instrumentation, demonstrating deep domain expertise in space systems engineering and rapid prototyping cycles.