Eric Carlin

Eric Carlin serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he manages complex research and development acquisitions critical to advancing U.S. air and space dominance. His portfolio centers on next-generation aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials, supporting both fundamental scientific inquiry and rapid prototyping initiatives. Carlin ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while fostering innovation through flexible contract vehicles such as BPA’s, IDIQs, and cost-reimbursement arrangements tailored to high-risk, high-reward R&D efforts. He plays a pivotal role in bridging laboratory breakthroughs with operational readiness, aligning procurement strategy with the agency’s mission to accelerate technology transition. Carlin maintains enduring relationships with industry leaders including UES Inc., General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, all of which provide specialized engineering, materials science, and systems integration capabilities. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term technical collaboration, often involving cooperative research agreements and SBIR/STTR transitions. These partnerships are characterized by iterative feedback loops, technical risk-sharing, and performance-based acquisition methods that prioritize innovation over rigid specifications. Carlin’s procurement activity is exclusively conducted under full and open competition, with no set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. While small business participation is not formally mandated in his portfolio, he actively encourages it through subcontracting opportunities and inclusion in teaming arrangements, particularly where niche technical expertise is required. His primary focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures advanced propulsion components, adaptive flight control systems, ceramic matrix composites, and high-temperature materials. His expertise lies in managing technically complex, multidisciplinary R&D contracts that demand deep domain knowledge in aerospace engineering, thermodynamics, and materials characterization.