Jill Y Mahdessian

Jill Y. Mahdessian serves as a Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where she plays a pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge space and aerospace technologies through strategic acquisition planning and contract execution. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of complex R&D and prototyping contracts, with a focus on high-performance instrumentation, resilient computing architectures, and next-generation propulsion systems. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while accelerating innovation to support U.S. dominance in space domain awareness, satellite communications, and autonomous space operations. Her acquisitions typically involve technical services, engineering prototypes, and advanced materials development under both cost-reimbursement and fixed-price mechanisms. Mahdessian collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of contractors, including defense primes, specialized research institutions, and agile technology firms capable of rapid prototyping in high-stakes aerospace environments. She fosters collaborative partnerships with vendors possessing deep expertise in rocket propulsion, space-grade electronics, and data-intensive mission systems. Her working relationships emphasize technical capability, responsiveness, and adaptability, often engaging firms with proven experience in DARPA-style innovation cycles and AFRL’s rapid acquisition pathways. She maintains a balanced approach to socioeconomic contracting, with approximately half of her portfolio allocated to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a strong commitment to expanding opportunities for small, innovative firms. While no specific set-aside categories dominate, her consistent use of small business set-asides signals a deliberate strategy to cultivate a resilient supplier base capable of meeting the unique demands of space technology development. Her procurement focus centers on advanced aerospace and defense technologies, primarily within NAICS categories related to scientific research and development, aerospace product and parts manufacturing, and engineering services. She routinely procures specialized systems including hypersonic test instrumentation, radiation-hardened computing modules, and autonomous guidance algorithms, demonstrating deep technical fluency in space systems engineering and propulsion innovation.