Jennifer Calandra

Jennifer Calandra serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RIKO office (FA8751), driving the acquisition of advanced aerospace and electronic systems critical to next-generation air and space dominance. She manages complex R&D contracts focused on high-performance instrumentation, semiconductor devices, and AI-enabled command and control technologies, ensuring alignment with the lab’s mission to develop survivable, autonomous platforms. Her portfolio centers on early-stage innovation and prototyping, bridging cutting-edge research with operational capability through rapid acquisition pathways such as Other Transaction Authorities and SBIR/STTR mechanisms. Calandra maintains strategic partnerships with industry leaders including SCALE AI, INC., CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS INC., and Noisy Labs GmbH, reflecting a preference for firms with deep expertise in signal processing, quantum sensing, and high-speed electronic design. She consistently engages specialized contractors capable of delivering proprietary hardware, custom ASICs, and AI-driven analytics platforms, often collaborating with firms that combine commercial innovation with defense-grade security protocols. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical agility, iterative development, and rapid prototype integration. Her procurement patterns show a strong inclination toward open competition, with 69.6% of awards issued without set-asides, yet she maintains a significant commitment to small business participation, allocating 30.4% of contracts under Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5). While she does not favor specific socioeconomic categories like 8(a) or HUBZone, her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a deliberate effort to cultivate emerging innovators in high-tech defense sectors. Calandra’s primary NAICS focus lies in analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing (334516) and instrumentation for electrical signal measurement (334515), reflecting her specialization in advanced sensing, test, and measurement systems. She procures precision electronic components, RF and microwave hardware, and semiconductor test equipment, supporting RIKO’s work in quantum sensors, cognitive electronic warfare, and resilient communications architectures. Her technical domain expertise spans signal integrity, embedded systems, and AI-enhanced data fusion for contested environments.