Small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans as an untapped resource that can help NAVAIR programs meet their goals, NAVAIR Vice command Rear Adm. Bill Shannon told members of the acquisition workforce during a recent training workshop.

The admiral’s comments came during a recent training seminar about working with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. In the workshop, broadcast NAVAIR-wide by video teleconference, he emphasized to the acquisition workforce the importance and the benefits of working with and supporting veterans.

Rear Adm. Shannon illustrated his points by talking about the character of one service-disabled veteran and his relationship with the New York Giants, the 2008 Super Bowl winners. The Giants credit some of their success this year to Army Lt. Col. Greg Gadson. Giants Coach Tom Coughlin described the team’s relationship to Gadson in a news release, as follows:

"He's added a great deal of inspiration to all of us," Coughlin said. "Because of the quality of the man first of all, and because of what he has sacrificed and given up so all of us can sleep under the blanket of freedom. This is a man who has led soldiers in combat, who has sacrificed a great deal for all of us. We call him a part of the team, and he is a part of our team."

In Baghdad on May 7, 2007, Gadson was on his way back from a memorial service for two soldiers from his brigade when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. He survived the blast, but lost both his legs and suffered traumatic injuries to his right arm and shoulder.

When Giants wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan learned of Gadson’s injury, Sullivan traveled to Walter Reed to visit his old West Point teammate. That meeting was the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship that continues today (for additional details on Lt. Col. Gadson’s story, visit http://www.giants.com/news/eisen/story.asp?story_id=25941).

Rear Adm. Shannon noted that Gadson is but one example of service-disabled veterans who have served with utmost distinction and who continue to serve, many of whom are also small business owners. He suggested that NAVAIR act as a champion for our veterans by helping them become valuable business partners.

"Because of their prior military experience, they know the business of national defense and understand the importance of the work we do at NAVAIR," he said.

NAVAIR Office of Small Business Programs Associate Director Emily Harman added, "They’re ready, willing, and able to be flexible and responsive to meet your immediate needs. In addition, contracts with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses can be sole-source."

Harman provided an overview of the Command’s procurement program for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), including a plan begun in 2007 to increase prime contract and subcontract award opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. She also explained how to connect with these businesses.

In addition, Susan Leach, PMA-273 T-44 IPT lead, described how the T-44 program benefited from working with a service-disabled veteran-owned small business on cockpit upgrades. She reported that on a very complex avionics contract, Nomad Aviation suggested 15 value-added streamlining recommendations that were incorporated into the contract.

"We found that Nomad Aviation proved to have outstanding technical capability, extensive experience on this and similar aircraft, and an excellent track record," Leach explained. "We received twice the usual commercial warrantee on the equipment, too. They even have a facility solely dedicated to this upgrade effort."

"We’re proud to be partnered with Nomad in this effort and they’re doing an outstanding job for us," she added.

Also speaking at the workshop were Dept. of Navy Office of Small Business Programs Director Tim Foreman, and Tyrone Lassiter, executive order compliance officer for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise.

To learn how a small business can meet specific program needs, obtain assistance from an OSBP specialist, and a copy of NAVAIR’s OSBP plan, visit the OSBP Web site, www.navair.navy.mil/osbp or join the OSBP community of interest on MyNAVAIR, https://mynavair.navair.navy.mil.

Because the workshop served as training, the event was videotaped. For a copy, contact the Office of Small Business Programs, 301-757-9044.

NAVAIR’s OSBP also offers rotational and shadow assignments for NAVAIR employees interested in learning in-depth about small business programs. Contact Emily Harman, 301-757-9044, for more information.

Caption T-44: The T-44A program benefited from working with a service-disabled veteran-owned small business on cockpit upgrades.

Caption SDVOSB workshop team: A team from NAVAIR and Navy worked together to provide a training workshop for members of the NAVAIR acquisition workforce. Team members were (from left): Rear Adm. Bill Shannon, Susan Leach, Tim Foreman, Mary Bate, Jill Moore, Billy Jenkins, Tyrone Lassiter, Emily Harman, and Ken Carkhuff.

Caption Veteran inspires Superbowl team: Disabled when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq, Army Lt. Col. Greg Gadson inspired the New York Giants during their winning season.

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