Susan L. Southers

Susan L. Southers serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where she manages complex acquisitions supporting cutting-edge aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and advanced materials research. Her portfolio centers on fundamental and applied R&D contracts critical to sustaining U.S. air and space dominance, with a focus on adaptive flight control systems, high-temperature materials, and next-generation engine technologies. She plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s mission by ensuring timely, compliant, and technically sound procurement of high-priority defense science and engineering services. Southers maintains long-standing relationships with leading aerospace and defense contractors including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC. These partnerships reflect her emphasis on engaging established industry leaders with proven expertise in propulsion systems, computational fluid dynamics, and advanced composite manufacturing. Her contracting approach prioritizes technical capability and mission readiness, often resulting in multi-year, performance-based agreements that support sustained innovation cycles across the defense R&D lifecycle. Her procurement patterns show a strong preference for unrestricted competitions, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This reflects a strategic focus on leveraging the broadest possible pool of technical expertise rather than socioeconomic set-asides, aligning with the highly specialized nature of the research she supports. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her portfolio, she ensures competitive fairness and transparency across all solicitations. Southers’ primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541715 and 541712, encompassing physical and engineering research services critical to propulsion system development. She routinely procures advanced materials testing, computational modeling, wind tunnel validation, and prototype integration services—domains requiring deep technical acumen and rigorous oversight to meet mission-critical performance standards.