Kimberly S. Horner

Kimberly S. Horner 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, high-stakes contracts for next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance functional materials, ensuring alignment with mission-critical R&D objectives. Her work bridges technical innovation and acquisition compliance, facilitating timely delivery of cutting-edge capabilities through competitive and compliant procurement pathways. Horner maintains sustained relationships with industry leaders such as UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, reflecting a preference for established defense contractors with proven expertise in propulsion systems, aerodynamic modeling, and advanced materials development. Her negotiation approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and risk mitigation, fostering collaborative partnerships that support rapid prototyping and transition from laboratory to field deployment. A strong advocate for socioeconomic equity, Horner consistently prioritizes set-aside opportunities, with nearly equal allocation between 8(a) competed contracts and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-asides. This pattern underscores a deliberate strategy to cultivate innovation from underrepresented small businesses while maintaining access to specialized technical capabilities essential to propulsion and materials research. Her procurement focus is centered on NAICS 611512 (Flight Training) and 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), indicating a dual emphasis on workforce development in advanced flight systems and outsourced engineering services supporting propulsion design, computational fluid dynamics, and composite material characterization. Horner’s expertise lies at the intersection of aerospace engineering and federal acquisition, ensuring that technical requirements are met through agile, compliant, and mission-driven contracting solutions.