Joshua Wilbourn

Joshua Wilbourn serves as a key procurement professional at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance deep space propulsion and space vehicle systems. He manages complex acquisition strategies for high-stakes research, development, and engineering services critical to next-generation rocket engines and guided missile technologies. His portfolio centers on technical contracts requiring rigorous systems engineering, computational modeling, and propulsion testing capabilities, ensuring alignment with NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture goals. Wilbourn’s work directly enables mission-critical innovation by bridging cutting-edge R&D with practical aerospace system integration. He maintains consistent contracting relationships with specialized vendors including Bastion Technologies Inc. and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, both of which provide advanced engineering analysis, propulsion system prototyping, and mission simulation services. These partnerships reflect a preference for technical specialists with proven expertise in space vehicle systems and high-fidelity test infrastructure. Wilbourn’s contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical compliance, and long-term vendor collaboration to support sustained development cycles for NASA’s most demanding propulsion programs. Wilbourn’s procurement activities show no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability over socioeconomic classification, prioritizing mission readiness and system performance above all else. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, vendors must still demonstrate technical excellence and proven track records in complex aerospace environments. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541715 (R&D in physical and engineering sciences) and 336415 (guided missile and space vehicle propulsion manufacturing), underscoring deep expertise in propulsion system design, combustion dynamics, and advanced materials testing. He routinely acquires services involving computational fluid dynamics, hypersonic testing, and rocket engine component validation—domains requiring specialized engineering talent and certified test facilities.