Jimmie L. Garrard II

Jimmie L. Garrard II serves as a Contract Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he plays a pivotal role in securing advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. He specializes in negotiating complex research and development contracts focused on next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance functional materials. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to accelerate the transition of foundational science into operational capabilities, ensuring that cutting-edge innovations in adaptive flight control and thermal management systems are efficiently acquired and integrated into national defense platforms. Garrard maintains consistent, long-term relationships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, often involving iterative prototyping, materials qualification, and systems integration under cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contract vehicles. His negotiation approach emphasizes technical risk mitigation, performance-based metrics, and alignment with Air Force propulsion roadmaps, fostering trust and sustained engagement with industry partners. Garrard’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of acquisitions conducted under no set-aside conditions. While he does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, his contracting strategy is driven by technical necessity and mission-critical capability requirements, ensuring that only the most qualified entities—regardless of size or certification—are selected to meet the demanding performance thresholds of advanced propulsion systems. His primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 541712, encompassing applied research and development in physical and engineering sciences. He routinely procures advanced composites, high-temperature alloys, computational fluid dynamics modeling services, and propulsion system testbeds, demonstrating deep expertise in aerospace materials science and propulsion system engineering. His work bridges the gap between laboratory innovation and flight-ready hardware, making him a key enabler of the Air Force’s technological edge.