Spencer Matsushima

Spencer Matsushima serves as a key procurement professional at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance human spaceflight systems and life sciences capabilities. He manages complex acquisitions in spacecraft propulsion systems and related aerospace technologies, ensuring alignment with NASA’s strategic priorities in crewed exploration beyond low Earth orbit. His work directly enables the development of next-generation propulsion units, guidance systems, and life-support infrastructure critical to Artemis and future deep-space missions. Matsushima specializes in full lifecycle contract management—from requirements definition through award and performance oversight—focusing on high-integrity, mission-critical hardware with stringent reliability and safety standards. His primary contractor relationships center on Sierra Space Corp, Aspera Biomedicines, Inc., and Single Crystal Diamond Inc., reflecting a focus on advanced materials, biomedical countermeasures for microgravity, and high-performance propulsion components. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, technically demanding collaborations requiring rigorous engineering validation and systems integration. Matsushima consistently engages with specialized aerospace and biomedical vendors capable of meeting NASA’s exacting performance and certification requirements, often involving proprietary technologies and classified development pathways. Matsushima’s procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a focus on technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic categorization, prioritizing the most qualified vendors regardless of business size or certification status. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, all acquisitions adhere to federal procurement integrity standards and competitive bidding principles. His technical domain is narrowly focused on NAICS 336415—Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing. He procures advanced rocket engines, thruster systems, fuel delivery components, and associated propulsion subsystems essential for crewed spacecraft and lunar landers. His expertise lies in managing the acquisition of high-thrust, restartable, and cryogenic propulsion technologies under extreme operational environments.