Janice S Olson

Janice S. Olson serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where she plays a pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge aerospace and space domain technologies through strategic procurement. She manages complex acquisitions for high-performance instrumentation, resilient computing architectures, and rapid prototyping initiatives critical to U.S. space dominance. Her portfolio focuses on foundational research and developmental contracts that support next-generation satellite communications, autonomous space operations, and space data systems, ensuring alignment with the Department of Defense’s innovation imperatives. Olson works closely with technical stakeholders to translate mission needs into solicitation requirements that prioritize performance, scalability, and technological readiness. Olson collaborates with a diverse range of defense contractors and research-focused firms specializing in rocket propulsion, space systems integration, and advanced avionics. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with entities possessing deep expertise in hypersonics, propulsion testing, and space-qualified electronics. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, risk mitigation, and performance-based outcomes, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors capable of delivering under demanding aerospace environments. She frequently utilizes Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) mechanisms to accelerate innovation cycles. Olson’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions designated as “No Set-Aside.” While she does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, her focus remains on securing the most technically capable solutions to meet mission-critical requirements, regardless of vendor size or certification status. Her primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 488190—Other Support Activities for Air Transportation—encompassing specialized engineering services, test and evaluation support, and ground system integration for aerospace platforms. She procures advanced propulsion diagnostics, autonomous flight control systems, and space-based sensor payloads, demonstrating deep technical fluency in rocketry, orbital mechanics, and space systems lifecycle management.