Dianna C. Aniton

Dianna C. Aniton serves as an Agreements Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she manages complex research and development agreements to advance next-generation aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and high-performance materials. Her role centers on structuring and executing non-traditional and traditional acquisition instruments—including cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs), other transaction authorities (OTAs), and basic ordering agreements—to accelerate innovation in mission-critical technologies. She plays a pivotal role in bridging government R&D objectives with industry capabilities, ensuring rapid prototyping and fielding of propulsion systems and adaptive flight control technologies essential to U.S. air and space dominance. Aniton 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 collaboration on advanced materials development, propulsion unit manufacturing, and systems integration, often involving technical risk-sharing and iterative prototyping. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical agility, favoring established industry leaders with proven expertise in high-risk, high-reward propulsion domains. Aniton’s procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a strategic focus on technical capability over socioeconomic criteria, prioritizing mission readiness and access to specialized engineering talent over traditional small business set-asides. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, her agreements remain open to all qualified vendors capable of meeting stringent technical requirements. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), with significant activity in propulsion unit manufacturing (336415), explosives manufacturing (325920), and advanced metal production (331313, 331110). She routinely acquires cutting-edge materials, propulsion subsystems, and hypersonic test components, demonstrating deep technical fluency in aerospace propulsion systems and high-temperature functional materials.