James M Van Oss

James M. Van Oss serves as a Contract Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he plays a pivotal role in securing advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. He specializes in negotiating complex, high-stakes contracts for next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic vehicle components, and mission-critical materials, ensuring technical requirements align with acquisition compliance and performance outcomes. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to accelerate the transition of cutting-edge research into operational capabilities, focusing on both fundamental innovation and rapid prototyping cycles within the defense industrial base. Van Oss maintains consistent, long-term partnerships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships reflect a preference for established defense contractors with proven expertise in aerospace propulsion, composite materials, and guided systems integration. He engages vendors through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated acquisitions, emphasizing technical merit, schedule reliability, and supply chain resilience, often working closely with engineering teams to refine statement of work and performance metrics. His contracting portfolio reflects a strict no set-aside preference, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This approach underscores a mission-driven focus on accessing the highest-tier technical capabilities available in the market, prioritizing performance and readiness over socioeconomic categorization, even as small business participation remains a broader Department of Defense objective. Van Oss’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing) and 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in propulsion subsystems, thermal protection systems, adaptive flight control hardware, and high-temperature functional materials. He routinely acquires advanced composites, turbine components, and integrated propulsion modules critical to next-generation air and space platforms.