Northrop Grumman has signed a U.S. Department of Defense mentor protégé agreement with S&K Electronics, a Small Disadvantaged and HUBZone Business chartered and owned by the confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes.
Located on the Flathead Reservation in Ronan, Mont., S&K Electronics will receive development assistance from Northrop Grumman, which will support S&K Electronics’ capabilities to manufacture printed circuit card assemblies for Northrop Grumman programs.
The DOD Mentor-Protégé Program provides a framework for prime contractors to pair with small businesses to help their protégés expand their business skills and better compete for DOD contracts. The relationships benefit the protégé, the mentor and DOD. The mentor protégé program is part of the DOD’s Office of Small Business Programs and is a key initiative within Northrop Grumman’s Global Supply Chain Supplier Diversity Program.
Northrop Grumman will provide training and support to help S&K Electronics optimize its processes, enhance its equipment and technology and improve the knowledge and skills of its workforce. As part of the program, Salish Kootenai College will provide training and certification on the use of 3D printers and potentially offer additional, related training.
“Northrop Grumman has had a positive relationship with S&K Electronics for several years and is pleased to embark on this mentor protégé agreement,” said Janine Nyre, sector vice president of global supply chain, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. “As a result of the U.S. Department of Defense’s sponsorship our partnership is now able to do even more. Supporting S&K Electronics’ capabilities benefits both Northrop Grumman and DOD, and I am especially excited about the real world training opportunities that will soon be available to students at Salish Kootenai College.”
“This agreement marks the start of another level of engagement with Northrop Grumman that speaks well of our two companies’ past collaboration,” said Lawrence Hall, president of S&K Electronics. “We are looking forward to improving our skills and processes in order to provide world class manufacturing services to Northrop Grumman and DOD.”
Northrop Grumman has exceeded the 23 percent statutory small business goal for more than 10 straight years and more than 32 percent of its suppliers are small businesses and women, or minority-owned firms. Northrop Grumman has mentored more than 130 small businesses through the DOD Mentor-Protégé Program since 1992 and has received 23 Nunn-Perry Awards, more than any other company in the program. Nunn-Perry awards are the highest honor a company can receive in the Mentor Protégé program.