Sean Keene

Sean Keene serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate, overseeing complex research and development contracts critical to advancing U.S. aerospace propulsion and hypersonic systems. His responsibilities center on managing the acquisition of high-performance materials, adaptive flight control technologies, and next-generation propulsion components through competitive and non-competitive contracting vehicles. He plays a pivotal role in translating laboratory innovations into operational capabilities by facilitating timely, technically rigorous contract awards that align with the Air Force’s strategic modernization priorities in air and space dominance. Keene maintains sustained working relationships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, all of which provide specialized engineering, systems integration, and advanced materials solutions. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term technical collaboration with vendors possessing deep expertise in propulsion systems, composite manufacturing, and hypersonic aerodynamics, fostering partnerships grounded in technical credibility and performance reliability rather than transactional engagement. His contracting activity shows no preference for socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a mission-driven focus on securing the highest technical capability available, regardless of vendor size or certification status, prioritizing performance, innovation, and readiness over socioeconomic targets. Keene’s portfolio is exclusively aligned with NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—reflecting a narrow, deep specialization in fundamental and applied propulsion research. He procures advanced materials, computational fluid dynamics modeling services, combustion system prototypes, and high-temperature structural components essential to next-generation air-breathing and rocket propulsion architectures. His expertise lies at the intersection of aerospace engineering and federal acquisition, ensuring that R&D investments yield tangible warfighting advantages.