Scott Pudlewski

Dr. Scott Pudlewski serves as a key technical and procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s FA8750 RIK office, where he oversees the acquisition of foundational research and development capabilities critical to next-generation aerospace and defense systems. His work directly supports the agency’s mission to advance autonomous systems, resilient communications, AI-driven battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled technologies through high-risk, high-reward scientific innovation. He manages a portfolio of competitive, non-set-aside contracts primarily focused on basic and applied R&D, engaging with industry partners to translate laboratory breakthroughs into operational capabilities for the Department of the Air Force. Dr. Pudlewski maintains strategic relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Eaton Corporation, Technergetics, and Caelight, Inc., often partnering with firms possessing deep expertise in physical sciences, engineering simulation, and advanced materials. His procurement approach emphasizes technical excellence, innovation velocity, and mission-critical performance, favoring established contractors with proven R&D track records while maintaining flexibility to incorporate emerging capabilities from niche technology providers. His contracting activity is entirely non-set-aside, reflecting a mission-driven focus on technical merit and capability readiness over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, his portfolio occasionally includes small firms with specialized technical niches, particularly in free-space optical communications, signal processing, and quantum sensor development, integrated through standard competitive solicitations. The majority of his acquisitions fall under NAICS 541712 and 541715, concentrating on research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences—excluding biotechnology and nanotechnology. He procures advanced prototypes, computational modeling tools, sensor systems, and experimental platforms that enable autonomous decision-making, secure data transmission, and next-generation sensing architectures for aerospace and space domains.