Scott Pursley

Scott Pursley serves as the WFIRST Command and Data Handling (C&DH) Lead, overseeing the acquisition and integration of critical spaceborne systems for NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope mission. In this technical leadership role, he is responsible for defining requirements, evaluating vendor proposals, and managing contract execution for C&DH subsystems that enable spacecraft command, telemetry, data processing, and fault management. His work directly supports mission-critical spaceflight operations, ensuring the reliability and autonomy of onboard systems. He specializes in complex, high-integrity space hardware and software acquisitions, working closely with engineering teams to align procurement outcomes with mission architecture and systems engineering standards. Pursley collaborates with a select group of aerospace prime contractors and specialized subsystem vendors with proven expertise in space-qualified C&DH architectures. His procurement approach emphasizes technical maturity, heritage performance, and rigorous verification protocols, fostering long-term partnerships with firms experienced in radiation-hardened computing, FPGA-based data routing, and spacecraft bus integration. He prioritizes vendors with demonstrated success in NASA and DoD space programs, maintaining a preference for established contractors capable of meeting stringent spaceflight certification standards. Pursley’s contracting activity reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” His approach prioritizes technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the high-risk, high-reliability nature of spaceflight systems where performance and heritage outweigh socioeconomic targeting criteria. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 336419, encompassing guided missile and space vehicle parts and auxiliary equipment, with deep specialization in command and data handling hardware, flight computers, solid-state recorders, and spacecraft communication interfaces. He routinely procures radiation-tolerant electronics, space-rated bus architectures, and embedded firmware systems, demonstrating extensive technical fluency in spacecraft avionics and mission-critical software-hardware integration for deep-space observatories.