Mr. Ryan Hilliard

Mr. Ryan Hilliard serves as the primary contracting lead for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s FA8750 office, where he manages the acquisition of foundational research and development services critical to next-generation aerospace and defense systems. His portfolio centers on advancing autonomous systems, resilient communications, AI-enabled battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled technologies through science-driven contracts. He oversees the full lifecycle of R&D procurements—from solicitation and evaluation to award and performance management—ensuring alignment with the Department of the Air Force’s strategic innovation priorities. Hilliard’s work directly supports the transition of laboratory breakthroughs into operational capabilities, requiring deep technical literacy in physical and engineering sciences. He maintains sustained relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Eaton Corporation, Technergetics, LLC, and Caelight, Inc., engaging them primarily for advanced R&D, systems integration, and prototyping efforts. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for established industry partners with proven expertise in high-risk, high-reward scientific domains, often leveraging Other Transaction Authority (OTA) and Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs) to accelerate innovation cycles. These partnerships are characterized by collaborative, milestone-driven engagement models that prioritize technical agility and rapid iteration. Hilliard’s contracting activity is exclusively non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a mission-driven focus on technical excellence and capability readiness over socioeconomic preferences, though he remains compliant with all federal acquisition regulations. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in his portfolio, vendors of all sizes are evaluated strictly on technical merit, innovation potential, and past performance in complex R&D environments. His primary NAICS classification is 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures advanced capabilities in free-space optical communications, machine learning for sensor fusion, quantum sensing, and resilient navigation systems. His expertise lies at the intersection of defense science and acquisition policy, ensuring that cutting-edge research is effectively translated into mission-critical systems through rigorous, performance-based contracting.