Jerry R. Kalka

Jerry R. Kalka serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s FA8750 organization, where he plays a critical role in advancing next-generation aerospace and defense technologies through strategic acquisition of R&D services and specialized equipment. He manages complex procurements aligned with the lab’s mission to pioneer autonomous systems, resilient communications, AI-driven battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled technologies. His portfolio primarily consists of scientific and engineering contracts supporting foundational research, with a focus on high-precision electronics, wireless communication systems, and advanced computing hardware. Kalka ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while fostering innovation through agile contracting methods tailored to rapid prototyping and dual-use technology development. Kalka maintains longstanding partnerships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, and Eaton Corporation, alongside niche innovators such as Technergetics and Caelight, Inc. His procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with vendors possessing deep technical expertise in free-space optical communications, signal processing, and embedded systems. He consistently engages contractors capable of delivering classified and unclassified prototypes under tight developmental timelines, often utilizing Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) pathways to accelerate technology transition. A staunch advocate for socioeconomic diversity in defense contracting, Kalka prioritizes set-asides under the SBA’s Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) program, allocating 50% of eligible opportunities to EDWOSB firms, with an additional 30% reserved for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to expand the defense industrial base by integrating underrepresented small businesses into high-impact R&D projects. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334210 (Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing), reflecting his specialization in secure voice, data, and command-and-control communication hardware. He also regularly acquires wireless communications equipment (334220), electronic computer systems (334111), and software development services (511210), demonstrating deep technical fluency in the electronics and communications domains critical to modern air and space operations.