Erin Fleming

Erin Fleming serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where she manages acquisitions critical to advancing next-generation space propulsion systems, resilient computing architectures, and high-performance space instrumentation. Her role centers on facilitating rapid prototyping and foundational research initiatives that directly support U.S. dominance in space domain awareness, autonomous satellite operations, and next-generation propulsion technologies. She handles complex research and development contracts requiring technical rigor, agile acquisition pathways, and close collaboration with government scientists and engineering teams to translate laboratory innovations into operational capabilities. Fleming works closely with a broad spectrum of defense contractors, academic research institutions, and advanced technology firms specializing in aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and space-based sensor systems. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she routinely engages with firms possessing deep expertise in rocket engine design, thermal management systems, and space-qualified electronics. Her contracting patterns emphasize technical capability over vendor size, fostering partnerships with both established defense primes and innovative startups capable of delivering cutting-edge solutions under tight developmental timelines. Fleming’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions designated as non-set-aside. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the technologies being procured and the limited pool of qualified vendors capable of meeting the technical and security requirements of classified space programs. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through socioeconomic set-asides, she ensures equitable access through full and open competition, allowing capable small firms to compete on technical merit. Her primary procurement focus is under NAICS 541715, encompassing research and development in physical and engineering sciences. She procures advanced propulsion test hardware, flight-ready avionics, computational modeling tools, and high-fidelity simulation systems. Her domain expertise spans liquid and hybrid rocket propulsion, in-space propulsion subsystems, and integrated space systems engineering, making her a pivotal figure in accelerating the transition of experimental technologies into operational space assets.