Ella Himes

Ella Himes serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she manages the acquisition of advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. Her role centers on executing full lifecycle contracting for research and development initiatives in propulsion systems, hypersonics, and high-performance materials, ensuring compliance with federal regulations while aligning procurement outcomes with mission-critical R&D objectives. She works closely with technical leads to define requirements, structure performance-based contracts, and evaluate proposals for complex engineering solutions, enabling rapid innovation in next-generation flight systems. Himes maintains sustained 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, technical collaboration on high-risk, high-reward projects involving propulsion integration, adaptive flight controls, and advanced material development. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance outcomes, technical feasibility, and industrial base resilience, often utilizing cost-reimbursement and other flexible contract types suited for early-stage R&D. Himes’ contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of her acquisitions issued without set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the work, which demands deep technical expertise and established infrastructure typically found in large, experienced defense contractors with proven capabilities in classified and sensitive aerospace domains. Her primary focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where she procures cutting-edge engineering services, computational modeling, materials characterization, and prototype development. Her expertise lies in acquiring advanced propulsion subsystems, hypersonic test assets, and functional composite materials essential for next-generation military aircraft and space platforms.