Thomas Young

Thomas Young serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Propulsion Directorate (FA8650), where he manages complex research and development acquisitions critical to advancing U.S. air and space dominance. His portfolio centers on next-generation aerospace propulsion systems, hypersonic technologies, and high-performance functional materials, ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical innovations through full and open competition. He oversees the full acquisition lifecycle—from market research and solicitation to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal regulations while aligning procurement outcomes with the laboratory’s strategic R&D objectives. Young maintains enduring relationships with industry leaders including UES INC, General Electric Company, DCS Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Inc, and Advanced Thermoplastic Composites LLC, all of which provide specialized engineering, systems integration, and advanced materials development services. These partnerships are characterized by long-term collaboration on high-risk, high-reward technical programs requiring deep domain expertise in propulsion physics, flight control systems, and composite material fabrication. His contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and iterative prototyping, fostering trust with vendors capable of meeting the unique demands of defense aerospace innovation. Young’s procurement activity is exclusively conducted under full and open competition, with no set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic categories. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the work, where technical capability and proven performance in advanced propulsion and materials science are paramount, and few small businesses possess the requisite facilities, security clearances, or engineering depth to compete effectively. His primary focus is on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where he procures cutting-edge solutions in computational fluid dynamics, thermal management systems, adaptive propulsion controls, and novel ceramic matrix composites. His expertise lies at the intersection of defense acquisition and advanced aerospace engineering, ensuring that the nation’s propulsion capabilities remain ahead of evolving threats.