Kristina Dodson

Kristina Dodson serves as a key procurement lead at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, where she manages complex acquisitions supporting cutting-edge aeronautical research and flight test operations. Her role centers on securing specialized engineering services, aircraft modification systems, and advanced propulsion components critical to validating next-generation flight technologies. Dodson oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions—from market research and solicitation to award and performance monitoring—ensuring alignment with NASA’s strategic priorities in hypersonics, autonomous systems, and experimental aircraft integration. She routinely handles high-risk, technical procurements requiring stringent compliance with federal aerospace standards and mission-critical performance metrics. Dodson maintains strong, ongoing relationships with industry leaders including PRIORITY 1 AVIATION INC and ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, partnering with firms capable of delivering bespoke aerospace solutions and high-performance propulsion systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes collaboration with vendors possessing deep domain expertise in flight test instrumentation, modified airframe integration, and advanced sensor deployment. These relationships are built on technical rigor, reliability, and proven track records in supporting NASA’s unique flight research environment, often involving non-standard or one-of-a-kind hardware and system modifications. A consistent advocate for small business participation, Dodson structures approximately 60% of her acquisitions as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, prioritizing socioeconomic programs that foster innovation from emerging aerospace contractors. Her procurement patterns reflect a deliberate effort to expand the pool of qualified small businesses capable of supporting complex flight test missions, ensuring broad-based industry engagement while maintaining mission readiness. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336212 (Truck Trailer Manufacturing), reflecting the need for specialized ground support and mobile test infrastructure, alongside NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) for modified airframes and NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) for systems integration and flight control architecture development. Dodson’s expertise spans the full spectrum of flight research procurement, from structural modifications to avionics upgrades, ensuring NASA Armstrong’s fleet remains at the forefront of aerospace innovation.