Sharon Wright

Sharon Wright supports the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453) in advancing critical space and aerospace technologies through strategic procurement and contract management. While her formal title is not publicly listed, her role centers on facilitating acquisitions for high-performance propulsion systems, resilient space computing architectures, and advanced instrumentation essential to U.S. space domain awareness and autonomous satellite operations. She plays a pivotal role in translating technical requirements from R&D teams into executable contracts, ensuring rapid prototyping and innovation cycles align with Department of the Air Force mission imperatives. Her acquisitions typically involve complex, classified, and dual-use technologies requiring stringent compliance with defense acquisition regulations and technical evaluation frameworks. Sharon Wright collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, including specialized aerospace engineering firms, small innovative manufacturers, and research institutions with space systems expertise. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach between established prime contractors with proven track records in rocket propulsion and emerging vendors capable of delivering agile, next-generation solutions. She fosters long-term partnerships with vendors who demonstrate technical maturity, security clearance readiness, and the ability to meet rapid development timelines under the Air Force’s Urgent Capabilities Office protocols. Her procurement strategy exhibits a strong commitment to socioeconomic diversity, with approximately half of her contract actions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate effort to integrate small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, and other qualified small entities into the high-tech space systems supply chain. While no specific set-aside categories are dominant, her consistent use of small business set-asides underscores a proactive alignment with federal mandates to broaden vendor participation in advanced aerospace development. Sharon Wright’s technical focus lies in procurement for rocket propulsion systems, space-based sensors, high-speed data links, and radiation-hardened computing platforms. Her acquisitions span NAICS categories related to aerospace product and parts manufacturing, scientific research and development services, and defense electronics. She routinely engages with vendors specializing in liquid and hybrid propulsion, thermal management for space environments, and autonomous guidance systems—domains critical to the future of resilient and responsive space architectures.