Newest Jetplex Tenant, Adept Technologies, Forges Mentor-Protégé Program Partnership with Northrop Grumman

Adept Technologies, the newest tenant to join the Jetplex Industrial Park, has signed a U.S. Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé agreement with fellow Jetplex tenant, Northrop Grumman. Having joined the Jetplex in July 2008, Adept Technologies occupies the former Futaba Corporation building on Wall Triana Highway and is a teammate on Northrop Grumman's Command Post Platform (CPP) Program, which provides the U.S. Army with high-mobility tactical operations centers for command, control, and communications on the battlefield. Adept Technologies – incorporated by twin brothers, Brad and Chad Fielder, in 1995 – offers precision design and production of components and systems for aerospace, military, and communications applications. According to Marty Williams, Director of Adept’s Applied Sciences Department, “Adept is a ‘one-stop shop,’ mostly for defense-related parts and systems. It handles engineering and design as well as precision machining, welding, plating and painting, and building a final product.” 

Under the 18-month Mentor-Protégé agreement approved by the Defense Contract Management Agency, Northrop Grumman will mentor Adept Technologies in several areas, including engineering and technical training; business development; contract management; human resources; security and employee clearances; lean manufacturing; and quality control. The core objective is to enhance Adept Technologies' ability to perform as a subcontractor and teaming partner with prime contractors and other businesses, the Department of Defense, NASA, and other federal agencies.

According to Dianne Parker, Northrop Grumman Information Systems’ Central Region Procurement Manager, “The transfer of essential business infrastructure mentoring and expertise will provide Adept a powerful advantage, reinforcing their core business processes and providing the DoD a valuable future leader and contractor. Overall mentoring will enhance Adept Technologies’ ability to perform as a stronger prime contractor, subcontractor, and teaming partner for large DoD prime contractors.”

The Defense Department's Mentor-Protégé Program was created to help small business concerns compete for and win Defense Department and other federal contracts by establishing long-term relationships with large defense contractors.

Since 1992, Northrop Grumman has mentored approximately 100 small businesses and currently has 30 active Mentor-Protégé agreements. Northrop Grumman has received 18 Nunn-Perry Awards from the Defense Department since 1995 for its work with protégé companies.