Sally Roliff

Sally Roliff serves as a Contract Negotiator for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she leads the negotiation and execution of complex research and development contracts critical to advancing U.S. aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and high-performance materials. Her role is central to the agency’s mission of accelerating next-generation flight technologies by ensuring technically sound, compliant, and cost-effective procurement outcomes. She primarily manages acquisitions under the NAICS 541712 category, focusing on fundamental and applied R&D in physical and engineering sciences, including adaptive flight control systems, advanced combustion technologies, and functional material development for extreme environments. Roliff maintains strategic working relationships with industry leaders such as UES Inc., General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, all of which bring deep expertise in propulsion systems, computational modeling, and composite material fabrication. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term technical collaboration, leveraging contractor capabilities to meet rapidly evolving Air Force requirements. She frequently engages with prime contractors possessing specialized engineering teams and facilities capable of supporting classified, high-risk R&D efforts under cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contract structures. While the majority of her acquisitions—85.7%—are conducted without set-asides, Roliff consistently supports small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5), demonstrating a balanced commitment to innovation and socioeconomic goals. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established technical partners with proven capabilities, while still creating pathways for qualified small businesses to contribute to mission-critical projects. Her domain expertise centers on advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic vehicle integration, and high-temperature materials, making her a key liaison between government technical requirements and industrial R&D capacity in the defense aerospace sector.