Terry L Rogers

Terry L. Rogers serves as a key procurement lead within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate, supporting the FA8650 organization’s mission to accelerate next-generation aerospace propulsion, hypersonics, and advanced materials development. Responsible for managing complex research and development contracts, Rogers oversees the acquisition of high-risk, high-reward technologies critical to maintaining U.S. air and space dominance. Their portfolio includes fundamental and applied research initiatives spanning adaptive flight control systems, thermally stable composites, and propulsion subsystem integration, ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical capabilities to the Department of the Air Force. Rogers maintains strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as UES Inc., General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc., and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, reflecting a preference for established aerospace and defense contractors with proven expertise in propulsion systems and advanced materials engineering. These relationships are characterized by long-term, multi-year R&D collaborations, often involving cost-reimbursement and other flexible contract types suited to high-technical-risk environments. The contracting approach emphasizes technical innovation, rapid prototyping, and seamless integration of emerging technologies into operational platforms. There is no indication of set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a procurement strategy prioritizing technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic set-asides, aligning with the high-stakes, specialized nature of propulsion research. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, the agency’s reliance on niche technical vendors suggests that qualified small firms may still compete successfully based on proprietary expertise. The procurement focus centers on advanced aerospace propulsion, hypersonic systems, and high-performance functional materials, with NAICS categories implicitly aligned to 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences) and 336411 (Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing). Rogers’ expertise lies in sourcing cutting-edge solutions for extreme-environment materials, combustion dynamics, and integrated propulsion architectures essential to future air dominance systems.