Dr. Charles Ward

Dr. Charles Ward serves as the Technical Point of Contact for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (AFRL/PZL), where he provides critical technical oversight for high-priority research and development acquisitions in aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and advanced materials. In this role, he bridges scientific innovation with acquisition execution, ensuring that contract requirements align with mission-critical technological goals. He is deeply involved in the solicitation, evaluation, and technical validation of complex R&D contracts, particularly those requiring multidisciplinary expertise in fluid dynamics, thermal management, and functional composite systems. His work directly supports the Department of the Air Force’s imperative to maintain technological superiority in air and space propulsion systems. Dr. Ward maintains consistent technical partnerships with industry leaders 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 high-risk, high-reward propulsion technologies, often involving prototype development, wind tunnel testing, and material characterization under extreme environments. He works closely with contractors to refine technical specifications, validate performance metrics, and ensure deliverables meet stringent military aerospace standards, fostering a culture of technical rigor and accountability. Dr. Ward’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of acquisitions conducted without socioeconomic set-asides. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the work, which demands advanced technical capabilities typically found only among established defense aerospace contractors with deep engineering infrastructure. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in contracting mechanisms, technical collaboration with smaller innovators occasionally occurs through subcontracting arrangements under prime contracts. His primary procurement focus is under NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—encompassing advanced propulsion system design, adaptive flight control algorithms, and next-generation thermally stable composites. Dr. Ward’s expertise lies in managing contracts for fundamental and applied research that transitions laboratory breakthroughs into flight-ready propulsion technologies for next-generation aircraft and hypersonic platforms.