Kimberly Cerney

Kimberly Cerney serves as a Contract Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she plays a pivotal role in securing advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. She specializes in negotiating complex research and development contracts focused on next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance functional materials. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to accelerate the transition of cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs into operational capabilities, ensuring that technical innovations are rapidly integrated into mission-critical platforms through rigorous, compliant procurement practices. Cerney maintains longstanding relationships with industry leaders such as UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established aerospace and defense contractors with proven expertise in propulsion systems, materials science, and flight control technologies. Her negotiation approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and risk mitigation, fostering collaborative environments that align contractor capabilities with the laboratory’s demanding R&D timelines and engineering specifications. Cerney’s contracting portfolio is exclusively classified under “No Set-Aside,” indicating a strategic focus on technical capability over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her award structure, her process remains fully compliant with federal acquisition regulations and emphasizes merit-based selection grounded in technical superiority and mission readiness. Her primary procurement focus is centered on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where she consistently sources advanced engineering services, materials characterization, computational modeling, and prototype development for propulsion and hypersonic systems. Her domain expertise spans turbine engine design, thermal protection systems, adaptive flight control algorithms, and novel composite material formulations essential to next-generation aerospace platforms.