Robert Riddle

Robert Riddle serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate, supporting mission-critical research and development in aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and advanced materials. He manages a portfolio of contracts focused on fundamental and applied R&D to accelerate next-generation flight systems, including adaptive control technologies and high-temperature functional materials. His work directly enables the U.S. Air Force’s strategic objectives in air and space dominance by facilitating rapid technology transition from laboratory innovation to operational capability. Riddle specializes in securing scientific and engineering services through competitive and sole-source mechanisms aligned with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. Riddle maintains consistent partnerships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These relationships are characterized by long-term, technical collaboration on complex propulsion systems, materials characterization, and flight-ready prototype development. He frequently engages prime contractors with proven expertise in high-fidelity modeling, thermal management, and composite manufacturing, ensuring alignment with AFRL’s rigorous performance and safety standards. His contracting approach emphasizes technical merit, innovation, and sustained industrial base capability over short-term cost savings. Riddle’s procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a focus on technical superiority and mission-critical readiness over socioeconomic preference programs, aligning with the high-stakes, low-margin nature of propulsion R&D. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in award structure, subcontracting opportunities may still arise through prime contractor teams. His primary procurement activity centers on NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. He consistently acquires advanced engineering services, materials testing, computational fluid dynamics, and propulsion system integration, supporting projects in scramjet design, additive manufacturing of turbine components, and thermal protection systems for hypersonic platforms.