Lance Griffiths

Lance Griffiths serves as Program Manager within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he oversees the strategic acquisition of advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials. His role is central to accelerating the transition of cutting-edge research into operational capabilities that sustain U.S. air and space dominance. Griffiths manages complex R&D contracts spanning fundamental science to prototype integration, ensuring alignment with national defense priorities and technical readiness milestones. He specializes in end-to-end acquisition lifecycle management for mission-critical propulsion and flight control systems, coordinating with engineers, scientists, and industry partners to deliver next-generation capabilities on schedule. Griffiths maintains consistent partnerships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven expertise in propulsion systems, composite materials, and adaptive flight control technologies. His contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term collaboration, often resulting in multi-year, milestone-driven agreements that support sustained innovation cycles. Griffiths does not utilize socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. His procurement strategy prioritizes technical merit and mission necessity over socioeconomic criteria, reflecting the specialized nature of the technologies involved and the limited pool of qualified providers capable of meeting extreme performance requirements in hypersonics and propulsion. His primary focus is on NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures advanced materials, propulsion system prototypes, computational fluid dynamics tools, and high-temperature component testing services. Griffiths’ expertise lies at the intersection of materials science, aerospace propulsion, and systems integration, ensuring that contracted R&D directly supports the Air Force’s strategic goals in next-generation air dominance.