Jill Wodochek

Jill Wodochek serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RDK division (FA9451), responsible for managing the acquisition of advanced research and development services critical to national aerospace security. She oversees the full lifecycle of contracts for physical, engineering, and life sciences R&D, with a focus on directed energy systems, electro-optics, laser vulnerability analysis, and next-generation instrumentation. Her work directly supports the Air Force’s strategic imperative to maintain technological superiority through innovation, ensuring that contracts align with mission-critical R&D timelines and technical specifications. Wodochek handles complex, high-stakes procurements requiring deep technical understanding and rigorous compliance with federal acquisition regulations. Wodochek collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, research institutions, and specialized technology firms engaged in advanced aerospace R&D. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with firms possessing proven expertise in laser systems, optical sensing, and high-energy physics applications. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical merit, and proven capability over price alone, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors who can deliver cutting-edge solutions under stringent government security protocols. Wodochek’s procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-aside designations. This reflects the highly specialized nature of RDK’s mission requirements, where only a limited number of firms possess the requisite technical credentials, security clearances, and infrastructure to meet the agency’s demanding standards. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through socioeconomic set-asides, she remains committed to fair and transparent competition that allows qualified small firms to compete on technical merit. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—with an emphasis on classified and unclassified R&D projects involving laser technologies, directed energy weapons, sensor systems, and advanced materials. She routinely procures services for prototype development, systems integration, and laboratory testing, requiring deep domain expertise in electro-optical engineering and aerospace physics.