Lori Shirdon

Lori Shirdon 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 manages complex procurement actions for research and development contracts focused on next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance functional materials. Her work ensures timely acquisition of innovative solutions that bridge fundamental science and operational capability, aligning with the agency’s mission to accelerate the transition of cutting-edge propulsion research into mission-ready systems. Shirdon maintains sustained working relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven expertise in propulsion engineering, materials science, and flight systems integration. Her negotiation approach emphasizes technical rigor, risk mitigation, and performance-based outcomes, fostering collaborative, long-term vendor engagements grounded in mutual accountability and innovation. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted under no set-aside provisions. This indicates a strategic focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing mission-critical performance and industrial capacity over programmatic set-asides. While small business participation is not formally targeted in her portfolio, her procurement decisions remain fully compliant with federal acquisition regulations and open to all qualified vendors. Shirdon’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 and 541715, encompassing physical and engineering research and development excluding biotechnology and nanotechnology. She routinely acquires advanced materials, propulsion subsystems, adaptive flight control algorithms, and high-temperature composite components, demonstrating deep expertise in aerospace systems engineering and materials innovation. Her work directly supports the development of next-generation jet engines, scramjets, and thermally resilient airframe structures essential to future combat aircraft and hypersonic platforms.