Dr. Don Telesca

Dr. Don Telesca serves as Program Manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s FA8750 organization, where he leads the strategic acquisition of foundational research and development contracts critical to next-generation aerospace and defense systems. In this role, he oversees the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for high-priority scientific initiatives, ensuring alignment with Air Force mission objectives in autonomous systems, resilient communications, AI-enabled battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled technologies. His acquisitions are primarily research-focused, targeting advanced engineering and physical sciences solutions that bridge laboratory innovation with operational capability. Dr. Telesca works closely with technical leads and acquisition teams to define requirements, evaluate proposals, and manage contract performance, ensuring scientific rigor and mission relevance. Dr. Telesca maintains longstanding relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Eaton Corporation, Technergetics, LLC, and Caelight, Inc. These partnerships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, with vendors often engaged in long-term, multi-phase R&D efforts requiring specialized expertise in free-space optical communications, adaptive signal processing, and embedded AI architectures. His procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical feasibility, fostering collaborative environments where industry partners contribute to evolving technical roadmaps alongside government scientists. Dr. Telesca’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside conditions. While he does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, his emphasis remains on technical excellence and mission-critical capability, ensuring that the most qualified entities—regardless of size or certification—are selected based on scientific merit and system readiness. His primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 541715, encompassing research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences. He consistently procures advanced capabilities in quantum sensing, autonomous navigation, secure optical networks, and AI-driven decision support systems, reflecting deep expertise in defense-critical scientific domains requiring cutting-edge innovation and rigorous validation protocols.