Laura McGoldrick

Laura McGoldrick serves as an Agreement Negotiator within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she plays a pivotal role in structuring and executing complex research and development contracts to advance next-generation aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and high-performance materials. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to sustain U.S. air and space dominance by facilitating the transition of cutting-edge technologies from laboratory innovation to operational capability. She specializes in negotiating sole-source and competitive agreements under FAR Part 35 and other R&D-specific authorities, primarily managing cost-reimbursable and time-and-materials contracts for fundamental and applied engineering research. McGoldrick maintains long-standing, mission-critical relationships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, often involving proprietary materials development, propulsion system prototyping, and adaptive flight control integration. Her negotiation approach emphasizes technical alignment, risk-sharing mechanisms, and performance-based milestones to ensure deliverables meet stringent aerospace standards. Her procurement portfolio is exclusively focused on non-set-aside acquisitions, with 100% of agreements awarded under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic prioritization of technical excellence and mission readiness over socioeconomic set-asides, though she remains engaged with small business capabilities through subcontracting and teaming arrangements when aligned with program objectives. Her primary contracting focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—where she procures advanced propulsion systems, hypersonic test hardware, functional materials, and computational modeling services. Her expertise spans thermodynamics, composite material science, and flight systems integration, making her a key liaison between government scientists and high-tech industry partners driving innovation in aerospace propulsion.