Rita Horton

Rita Horton serves as a Contract Negotiator for 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 the timely acquisition of cutting-edge engineering solutions that bridge laboratory innovation with operational capability, aligning closely with the agency’s mission to accelerate technological superiority in defense aerospace systems. Horton maintains sustained working relationships with leading aerospace and defense 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 systems, materials science, and flight control technologies. Her negotiation approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term collaboration, fostering trust with vendors capable of delivering high-risk, high-reward R&D solutions under stringent government requirements. Horton’s procurement portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on accessing the broadest possible pool of technical expertise rather than socioeconomic set-asides, prioritizing mission-critical capability over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally targeted, her contracting decisions remain compliant with all federal acquisition regulations and are driven solely by technical merit and system readiness. Her primary focus lies in NAICS 541712 and 541715, encompassing physical and engineering research and development services. She routinely procures advanced materials, propulsion system prototypes, computational fluid dynamics modeling, adaptive flight control algorithms, and high-temperature composite structures. Her domain expertise centers on aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and functional materials—areas requiring deep technical understanding and precise contract language to manage innovation risk and ensure deliverables meet rigorous military performance standards.