Harrison Little

Harrison Little serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), overseeing the acquisition of advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials critical to U.S. air and space dominance. He manages complex research and development contracts aligned with the agency’s mission to accelerate next-generation propulsion innovation, focusing on fundamental science and applied engineering solutions that bridge laboratory breakthroughs with operational capability. His acquisitions typically involve long-term, high-risk R&D efforts requiring specialized technical expertise and multi-disciplinary contractor teams. Little 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 reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven capabilities in propulsion system design, adaptive flight control, and advanced composite manufacturing. His contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and iterative development cycles, often supporting phased prototyping and ground testing of experimental propulsion architectures. There is no preference for socioeconomic set-asides; all acquisitions are conducted as full and open competitions, indicating a focus on technical merit and mission readiness over socioeconomic criteria. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the work, where only a limited pool of vendors possesses the necessary clearance levels, facilities, and engineering expertise to meet stringent DoD performance requirements. The primary NAICS classification for all procurements is 541714—Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)—though this is used administratively to capture advanced materials and propulsion R&D under federal classification conventions. The actual technical domains encompass hypersonics, combustion dynamics, thermal management systems, and high-temperature structural materials, with contracts directed toward developing next-generation propulsion architectures for next-generation air and space platforms.