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CELEBRATING the 2025 AWARDEES

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Winners 2025 Each year, the U.S Army spends tens of billions of dollars on products produced by small businesses, creating enormous opportunities for burgeoning entrepreneurs.

Every year, the five branches of the United States Armed Forces spend hundreds of billions of dollars on outside contractors, hiring companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrup Grumman to produce things that the military doesn’t have the resources to produce on its own. By hiring contractors, the military is able to procure everything from elite technology like fighter jets and bombs to basic necessities like clothing, food, and toiletries.

But large corporations like Lockheed and Raytheon aren’t the only companies that get a piece of the military pie. Small businesses have the opportunity to get in on the action too. Each of the five branches puts a certain percentage of their capital toward small contracts. This not only allows the militaryPh.D. access 2025 business ENGINEER OF THE Markeeva Morgan, to some of the most cutting-edge technologies available but YEAR Vice President and Program creates great opportunities for entrepreneurs Manager seeking an ongoing Ronald L. Johnson, Ed.D. relationship with a large client. The Boeing Company Major General, US Army According to retired Lt. Col. Tommy Marks, the U.S. Army spent (Retired) COMMUNITY SERVICE nearly $18 billion on small business contracts last year. As the Chief of Staff and Senior Vice director ofofthe Army’sInitiatives Small Business Programs and a member President Strategic Myron & Tiera Fletcher of their Senior Executive Marks’s jobProgram to advocate Professor of the Practice,Service, it’s Col. Executive Fleet Chieffor small business contracts within the branch. Industrial and Systems of Staff & Engineering Executive Fleet Program “Every agency head must have a small business office so that we Georgia Techbusinesses the opportunity Integration Office Senior afford small to secure some of the Manager funding that we spend to buy things,” Col. Marks says, “and those Boeingcomes Company CAREER ACHIEVEMENT are through prime contracts,INwhere aThe business in and signs GOVERNMENT a direct contract with the government, not through a Boeing or a Deonte Thompson Lockheed.” Senior Director, Technical John Dargan, Ph.D.

Programprograms Management, Client Principal Director, Officeare of several different He explains that there that allow Solutions GroupThe Small Science and the Army toEngineering fund and work with small companies. Dellfor Technologies Department of Homeland Business Innovation Research program, example, helps “small Security businesses with outstanding ideas” bring their innovations to market. This, of course, can be a saving grace for self-funded DAVE BARCLAY Jonathan Ransom, Ph.D. entrepreneurs that might otherwise not be able to turn their ideas AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Deputy Director, Engineering into a reality. AWARD Directorate NASA Langley Research Another program Col. Marks discusses is the Mentor–Protege Lieutenant Colonel Jarvis Center Program, which connects small businesses with representatives at Buchanan larger companies that can help themOperations navigate the world of military Officer contracts.ACHIEVEMENT “If you’re a small IN company, weArmy can connect with a U.S. Futuresyou Command CAREER successful company that helps you through that process,” he says. INDUSTRY David Cade Additionally, points that a certain amount of funding Vice President BDS Core is Jimmie Lee he Davis, Jr.,out D.Eng. allocated to women-owned businesses owned by Chain Contracting Global Supply Project Lead, PNT Engineer businesses, disabled veterans, and businesses operating in low socioeconomic and Integration The MITRE Corporation regions. The Boeing Company But he emphasizes that the Army’s funding programs are not

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welfare programs. They cannot, and do not, fund anyone with a business idea. Instead, they seek businesses that understand the military’s needs, have devised unique solutions, and have the skill set necessary to bring those ideas to life. “If you cannot come to the table with capabilities that match mission requirements, you won’t be successful in obtaining a contract,” he says. “We’re talking about companies that are qualified and capable. If you can’t do that, I can’t help you.”

It’s important, therefore, that entrepreneurs bring only the most innovative solutions to the Army when applying for a contract. Major General James Simpson, Commanding General of the U.S Army Contracting Command, encourages business owners to carefully consider their potential contribution before reaching out. “What capabilities do you bring to the table to support readiness?” he asks. “We require small businesses to come in and give us capability briefs, to explain what value they bring to the table.” Kellye Randle GEM OUTSTANDING Retired Brigadier General runs a consulting Engineering, University and Belinda Pinckney, YOUNGwho ALUMNUS/ GEM firm that connects the military, suggests that Outreach Programs entrepreneurs with STUDENT LEADERSHIP no one try to secure military funding unless they already have a RTX Josué J. Lopez, Ph.D. strong business plan in place. “There are a lot of challenges you Investor | Entrepreneur encounter when you start a business,” she says. “You have to make EDUCATIONAL Fine Structure Ventures sure everything–isCOLLEGEregistered. You have to understand the business LEADERSHIP side of it.” LEVEL PROMOTION OF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT EDUCATION She also suggests that interested entrepreneurs start by Jennifer Boykin researching Thomas A. Searles Jr., Executive Vice President and Ph.D. President of Newport News Associate Professor Shipbuilding University of Illinois Chicago HII EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP – CORPORATE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION Ryan C. Lakin Divisional Vice President, Digital Solutions Abbott ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP Diedre Windsor President and CEO Windsor Group LLC

MOST PROMISING ENGINEER IN GOVERNMENT Jodi Jansen General Engineer Missile Defense Agency ShaTara J. Walker Industrial Engineer U.S. Air Force MOST PROMISING ENGINEER IN INDUSTRY Moses Ike, Ph.D. Principal Cybersecurity Research Engineer Sandia National Laboratories