Steven L Ewers

Steven L. Ewers serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he manages complex procurement actions supporting advanced aerospace propulsion, hypersonic systems, and high-performance materials research. His role is critical to accelerating the transition of cutting-edge technologies from laboratory innovation to operational readiness, overseeing solicitations and contract awards for R&D, prototyping, and engineering services aligned with the Department of Defense’s strategic priorities in air and space dominance. Ewers routinely handles classified and unclassified acquisitions under FAR and DFARS frameworks, with a focus on technical services, advanced manufacturing, and mission-critical system integration. Ewers maintains long-standing partnerships with industry leaders including UES Inc., General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, reflecting a preference for established defense aerospace contractors with proven expertise in propulsion systems, composite materials, and flight control technologies. His contracting patterns indicate a reliance on firms with deep technical capabilities in hypersonics, turbine engine development, and high-temperature materials, often engaging these vendors through competitive negotiated procurements and research and development contracts such as BAA and SBIR/STTR mechanisms. Ewers’ procurement portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards conducted under full and open competition, indicating a strong emphasis on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not structurally prioritized in his portfolio, he ensures compliance with all applicable small business subcontracting requirements and leverages industry partnerships to facilitate meaningful small business involvement through tiered supply chain opportunities. His primary technical focus centers on propulsion systems, adaptive flight controls, and advanced functional materials, procuring services and products under NAICS categories typically associated with aerospace engineering, scientific R&D, and advanced materials manufacturing. Ewers’ expertise lies in navigating the intersection of national security requirements and high-risk, high-reward technological development, ensuring acquisition strategies align with the AFRL’s mission to maintain U.S. technological superiority in aerospace propulsion.