Michael LaBerge

Michael LaBerge serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), where he plays a critical role in executing complex research and development acquisitions to advance next-generation space and aerospace technologies. He manages the full lifecycle of contracts for high-performance instrumentation, resilient computing architectures, and space domain awareness systems, ensuring alignment with the Division’s mission to accelerate innovation in autonomous space operations and satellite communications. His expertise lies in structuring performance-based, cost-reimbursement, and cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts that support rapid prototyping and foundational R&D initiatives under stringent technical and compliance requirements. LaBerge collaborates with a diverse array of defense contractors, research institutions, and technology innovators specializing in propulsion systems, space-grade electronics, and advanced data processing architectures. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages with firms possessing deep expertise in aerospace engineering, systems integration, and hypersonics. His working relationships are characterized by a focus on technical capability, agility, and compliance with DoD acquisition regulations, fostering partnerships that enable swift delivery of mission-critical prototypes and experimental systems. His contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted under non-set-aside authorities. This indicates a strategic emphasis on selecting the most technically qualified offerors regardless of socioeconomic status, prioritizing mission performance over mandatory small business set-asides. While he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, his approach remains fully compliant with federal socioeconomic goals through occasional subcontracting opportunities and teaming arrangements. LaBerge’s procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 541715 (66.7%) and 541712 (33.3%), encompassing physical and engineering research services critical to space systems development. He routinely procures advanced propulsion modeling, computational fluid dynamics analysis, sensor fusion technologies, and autonomous guidance systems—services requiring specialized scientific and engineering capabilities. His domain expertise centers on space propulsion, high-energy materials, and space-resilient computing, making him a key facilitator of cutting-edge innovation within the Department of the Air Force.