Julian Landavazo

Julian Landavazo serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where he plays a pivotal role in executing complex research and development acquisitions to advance next-generation space and aerospace technologies. He manages the full lifecycle of contracts supporting foundational innovation in resilient computing, high-performance instrumentation, and autonomous space systems, ensuring alignment with the Department of the Air Force’s strategic priorities in space domain awareness and satellite communications. His acquisitions are primarily performance-based, emphasizing technical rigor, rapid prototyping, and agile delivery frameworks to meet urgent operational needs. Landavazo collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, academic research institutions, and technology innovators specializing in aerospace engineering and advanced propulsion systems. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with proven expertise in hypersonics, space-based sensors, and mission-critical software development. His working relationships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, early contractor involvement in requirements formulation, and a focus on fostering innovation through competitive, non-traditional procurement pathways. His contracting approach reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This underscores a mission-driven focus on technical capability over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing the most qualified performers regardless of business size or certification status. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, he remains compliant with all federal acquisition regulations and supports small business engagement where it aligns with technical requirements. Landavazo’s procurement activity is overwhelmingly concentrated in NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), with a secondary focus on 541712. He routinely procures advanced engineering services, computational modeling, test and evaluation support, and prototype development for space-based systems, demonstrating deep expertise in technical domains critical to U.S. space superiority.