Sharon Shuler

Sharon Shuler serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she leads the acquisition of advanced aerospace technologies critical to U.S. air and space dominance. She manages complex research and development contracts focused on next-generation propulsion systems, hypersonic flight technologies, and high-performance functional materials, ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical innovations through full and open competition. Her portfolio emphasizes fundamental and applied R&D in physical and engineering sciences, aligning directly with the agency’s mandate to accelerate cutting-edge propulsion capabilities for next-generation aircraft and space platforms. Shuler maintains consistent 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 possess deep technical expertise in aerospace systems integration, materials science, and computational modeling. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, performance-based contract structures, including cost-reimbursement and firm-fixed-price arrangements, designed to support high-risk, high-reward R&D initiatives. Her procurement approach prioritizes technical excellence, innovation, and mission alignment over cost alone, fostering collaborative environments that enable rapid prototyping and field validation. Shuler’s acquisition portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of her contracts awarded through full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on accessing the broadest possible pool of technical capability, particularly for highly specialized propulsion and hypersonics research where only a limited number of firms possess the requisite expertise and facilities. While she does not utilize socioeconomic set-asides, her contracting practices remain fully compliant with federal acquisition regulations and promote fair competition among all qualified vendors. Her primary NAICS classification is 541712, reflecting an exclusive focus on research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences. She procures advanced materials, propulsion subsystems, adaptive flight control algorithms, and high-temperature structural components, requiring deep domain knowledge in aerospace engineering, thermodynamics, and composite manufacturing. Her expertise ensures that federal investments in propulsion innovation yield tangible operational advantages for the U.S. Air Force.