Matthew Sheridan

Matthew Sheridan serves as a key procurement lead at NASA Glenn Research Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance next-generation aeronautics and space propulsion technologies. He manages complex acquisitions for high-risk, high-reward research and development initiatives, particularly in fission surface power systems, advanced thermal-fluid systems, and aerospace instrumentation. His work directly enables the development of next-generation propulsion architectures and extreme-environment materials critical for lunar and planetary exploration. Sheridan handles a portfolio of technical contracts requiring deep engineering expertise, often involving prototype development, systems integration, and performance validation under stringent spaceflight requirements. He maintains consistent working relationships with specialized contractors including Troy Sierra JV LLC, Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and Electronic Fluorocarbons, LLC, all of which provide niche capabilities in propulsion subsystems, advanced materials, and cryogenic fluid handling. These partnerships reflect a preference for technically mature vendors with proven experience in aerospace environments, often engaging in cost-reimbursable and time-and-materials contracts to accommodate evolving R&D requirements. His procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor and risk mitigation over cost competitiveness alone. Sheridan’s contracting activity shows no use of socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects NASA Glenn’s strategic focus on acquiring specialized, mission-critical technologies where only a limited pool of qualified vendors exists, prioritizing technical capability over socioeconomic criteria. His primary NAICS focus lies in 517112 (Wireless Telecommunications Carriers) and 541715 (R&D in Physical and Engineering Sciences), indicating a dual emphasis on space-based communication systems and foundational propulsion research. He procures advanced sensors, thermal management hardware, high-efficiency power conversion units, and flight-qualified electronics, demonstrating deep expertise in aerospace systems engineering and mission-enabling technologies for deep space exploration.