Erika Trujillo

Erika Trujillo serves as a key procurement professional within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where she supports the acquisition of advanced aerospace and space systems through foundational research and rapid prototyping initiatives. Her role centers on managing complex research and development contracts that enable next-generation space technologies, including resilient computing architectures, high-performance instrumentation, and autonomous space operations capabilities. She plays a critical part in translating strategic DoD priorities into actionable procurement actions, ensuring that cutting-edge innovations in space domain awareness and satellite communications are rapidly fielded to maintain U.S. technological superiority. Her acquisitions typically involve early-stage R&D, prototype development, and technology transition efforts requiring close collaboration with technical stakeholders and industry partners. Trujillo collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, academic research institutions, and specialized engineering firms engaged in propulsion systems, space-based sensors, and advanced data processing. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, her contracting patterns reflect a preference for partners with proven expertise in hypersonics, solid and liquid propulsion, and real-time space data analytics. She fosters long-term vendor relationships built on technical rigor, agile development practices, and the ability to meet stringent DoD performance and security standards. Trujillo’s procurement activity is entirely non-set-aside, reflecting the mission-critical and highly specialized nature of the technologies she supports. There is no current preference for 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, as the technical requirements demand deep domain expertise often found in large, established defense contractors or research-heavy entities with mature DoD compliance frameworks. Her primary focus is on NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where she procures advanced propulsion systems, space-qualified electronics, autonomous control algorithms, and high-fidelity simulation tools. Her technical domain expertise spans rocket propulsion, space systems integration, and mission-critical instrumentation, ensuring that funded efforts directly advance the nation’s space superiority objectives.