Kristen Kearns

Kristen Kearns serves as Program Manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she leads the acquisition and technical integration of advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials. In this role, she oversees the full lifecycle of research and development contracts, ensuring alignment with national defense priorities and the rapid transition of laboratory innovations into mission-ready capabilities. Her procurement portfolio is exclusively focused on fundamental and applied R&D in physical and engineering sciences, with an emphasis on enabling next-generation air and space dominance through cutting-edge propulsion architectures and adaptive flight control systems. Kearns maintains enduring partnerships with industry leaders including UES Inc., General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, long-term contract performance, and sustained engagement in high-risk, high-reward propulsion and materials development programs. She works closely with prime contractors possessing specialized expertise in turbine systems, combustion dynamics, ceramic matrix composites, and hypersonic thermal management, fostering innovation through performance-based contracting and technical risk-sharing frameworks. Kearns does not utilize socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. Her procurement strategy prioritizes technical excellence and mission urgency over socioeconomic preferences, ensuring access to the most capable and experienced industry partners in propulsion and advanced materials. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, vendors of all sizes compete on technical merit and demonstrated capability. Her primary procurement focus is NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where she sources advanced propulsion testing, computational fluid dynamics modeling, additive manufacturing of high-temperature components, and novel material characterization services. Her domain expertise spans gas turbine systems, scramjet propulsion, thermal protection systems, and adaptive control architectures critical to future air superiority platforms.