Kelly Higgins

Kelly Higgins serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s FA8750 RIK office, where she manages complex research and development acquisitions supporting next-generation aerospace and defense technologies. Her portfolio focuses on foundational scientific innovation in autonomous systems, resilient communications, AI-enabled battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled capabilities. Higgins specializes in procuring advanced electronics, optical communication systems, and mission-critical computing hardware, ensuring alignment with the Air Force’s strategic R&D priorities. She navigates the full acquisition lifecycle—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—leveraging FAR and DFARS guidelines to deliver technically sophisticated solutions on schedule and within compliance. Higgins maintains consistent partnerships with leading defense and technology contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Eaton Corporation, Technergetics, LLC, and Caelight, Inc. These relationships reflect a blend of large prime contractors delivering integrated systems and specialized small businesses providing niche components in optical networking, signal processing, and embedded computing. Her contracting approach emphasizes collaboration with industry to accelerate innovation, often incorporating prototype authorities and Other Transaction Authorities to streamline R&D transitions. Her procurement patterns demonstrate a strong commitment to socioeconomic diversity, with nearly 37% of awards directed toward small business categories, including Total Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and SBA-certified Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB). While the majority of acquisitions are unrestricted, Higgins actively prioritizes small business participation to foster innovation from emerging technology providers. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 334210 (Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing) and 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing), reflecting a deep specialization in secure communications hardware, high-performance computing platforms, and advanced audio/video signal processing systems. She routinely procures ruggedized electronics, free-space optical transceivers, and AI-optimized embedded systems tailored for expeditionary and contested environments.