Elisse Whitney

Elisse Whitney serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), overseeing the acquisition of advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. Responsible for managing complex research and development contracts, she facilitates the transition of cutting-edge propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance materials from laboratory innovation to operational readiness. Her portfolio centers on fundamental and applied R&D initiatives that support next-generation engine designs, adaptive flight control architectures, and advanced functional materials, ensuring the Air Force maintains technological superiority through strategic contracting. Whitney maintains long-standing relationships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established defense aerospace contractors with proven expertise in propulsion systems, aerothermal modeling, and composite material development. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and sustained collaboration with vendors capable of delivering high-risk, high-reward solutions under demanding aerospace environments. Whitney’s contracting activity is exclusively classified under the “No Set-Aside” category, indicating a focus on full and open competition to ensure access to the broadest pool of technical capability. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through socioeconomic set-asides, her acquisitions still engage small firms as subcontractors within prime contractor teams, particularly in specialized materials and systems integration roles. Her procurement activity is entirely concentrated under NAICS 541715, reflecting a singular focus on research and development in physical and engineering sciences. She procures advanced propulsion test hardware, computational fluid dynamics services, high-temperature material characterization, and hypersonic vehicle prototyping—domains requiring deep expertise in aerospace engineering, thermodynamics, and advanced manufacturing processes.