Shawn Capehart

Shawn D. Capehart serves as a key procurement professional within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Propulsion Division (FA9453), supporting the development and acquisition of advanced space and aerospace technologies. Responsible for managing complex research and prototyping contracts, he facilitates the transition of cutting-edge innovations from laboratory concepts to operational capabilities in space domain awareness, satellite communications, and autonomous systems. His acquisitions typically involve high-performance instrumentation, resilient computing architectures, and specialized sensor systems critical to national security space missions, ensuring rapid delivery of technically sophisticated solutions aligned with AFRL’s mission of technological dominance. Capehart collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, research institutions, and niche technology developers specializing in aerospace instrumentation and mission-critical systems. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, his contracting patterns reflect a preference for agile, innovation-driven vendors capable of rapid prototyping and technical adaptability. He fosters long-term partnerships with firms possessing deep expertise in space-grade electronics, signal processing, and radiation-hardened systems, often engaging through Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) and Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) to accelerate technology maturation. His procurement strategy prioritizes open competition, with 93.3% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions, reflecting the highly specialized nature of the technologies required. Nevertheless, he consistently allocates 6.7% of opportunities to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to small business participation in high-technology domains where niche capabilities are essential. Capehart’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334515 and 334516, encompassing the manufacture of precision instruments for electrical signal measurement and analytical laboratory systems. He also procures specialized security systems services and technical training solutions to support operational readiness. His expertise centers on high-reliability instrumentation, data acquisition hardware, and testbed systems used in hypersonic, propulsion, and space-based sensing applications, making him a critical link between AFRL’s R&D initiatives and fielded capabilities.