Sharon M. Shuler

Sharon M. Shuler serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she leads the acquisition of advanced aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance materials critical to U.S. air and space dominance. Her portfolio centers on research and development contracts that bridge fundamental science with operational capability, ensuring rapid integration of next-generation propulsion architectures and adaptive flight control systems. She manages complex, technical procurements under full and open competition, often involving multi-year, performance-based agreements with industry partners to meet urgent warfighter needs. Shuler maintains longstanding relationships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect a pattern of engagement with prime contractors possessing deep expertise in propulsion system design, materials science, and systems integration. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, risk mitigation, and performance accountability, fostering collaborative environments where innovation is incentivized through clear statement of work and outcome-based metrics. Shuler’s procurement activity is exclusively conducted under full and open competition, with no set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her acquisition strategy, she ensures that all solicitations are structured to allow equitable access and meaningful competition, consistent with DoD’s emphasis on technical merit and mission readiness. Her primary focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where she procures advanced propulsion components, hypersonic test hardware, functional materials, and computational modeling services. Her domain expertise spans gas turbine systems, scramjet technologies, ceramic matrix composites, and thermal protection systems, making her a key facilitator of cutting-edge R&D in support of the Air Force’s long-term propulsion modernization goals.