Missile Defense Agency selects Northrop Grumman for mentor-protege program

Northrop Grumman Corporation has signed a new U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) mentor-protégé agreement with the Missile Defense Agency mentor-protégé program office in Huntsville, AL, the company announced April 10.

The DOD mentor-protégé program encourages prime contractors to help small businesses increase their participation in federal subcontracts and establish long-term relationships with prime contractors.

Under the 36-month agreement, Northrop Grumman will assist QTEC, Inc., a small, woman-owned business located in Huntsville, to enhance QTEC’s engineering and technology capabilities, business infrastructure and business development. Key focus areas include information assurance and DOD certifications, cybersecurity operations, emerging security technologies and systems engineering.

“We look forward to a successful mentor-protégé relationship and will work together to improve and broaden QTEC’s viability and competitiveness,” said Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager, integrated air and missile defense division, Northrop Grumman Information Systems. “We recognize the value of this small business and are committed to help QTEC become an even more valuable part of our supplier base.”

“QTEC is proud to be a partner with Northrop Grumman in the DOD mentor-protégé program through the Missile Defense Agency,” said Kathryn Broad, chief executive officer of QTEC. “This agreement aligns with QTEC’s long-term strategic goals of expanding the depth and breadth of our technical and management capabilities.”

QTEC is a woman-owned small business that began operations in Huntsville in 1998 and has supported Northrop Grumman since 2001. The company specializes in engineering, analytical, technical, and program/project management support to assist in assuring U.S. preeminence in missile defense, Army, Navy and Air Force aviation and space.

Northrop Grumman will also work with Oakwood University, a historically black university located in Huntsville to provide information security training to QTEC personnel in preparation for obtaining key security credentials.

Since the inception of the DOD mentor-protégé program, Northrop Grumman representatives have provided guidance to more than 130 small business firms. Northrop Grumman has won 22 DOD Nunn-Perry awards, the most awards of any prime contractor. Nunn-Perry awards are the highest honor prime contractors can receive for participation in the program.

Source: Northrop Grumman Corp