Congratulations are in order for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and TRM Microwave, a pair selected to receive the 2017 Nunn-Perry Award for Outstanding Execution after participating as a team in the U.S. DoD Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) during a three-year long contract.

The U.S. DoD Mentor-Protégé Program partners large companies with small businesses, giving them the necessary guidance to develop capabilities and a competitive advantage in bidding for prime contracts and subcontracts. Simultaneously, mentors receive the benefit of technological advancement and often niche skills that are crucial to defense programs. 

Located in Bedford, N.H., TRM Microwave is a woman-owned small business specializing in the custom design and manufacture of RF/microwave components and integrated subsystem assemblies for aerospace and defense program applications. They were chosen for participation in the Mentor-Protégé Program in January 2016 to partner with Raytheon as their mentor.

“We’ve always enjoyed a rewarding customer-partnership with Raytheon, but these past two years as their protégé have proven invaluable. Their training and guidance has helped redefine our business development goals and technology roadmap. As a result, we’ve increased our capabilities and gained access to new opportunities in the defense market,” says TRM’s COO Mark Schappler. “Because of this program, we are fast approaching the next horizon in our future--an expanded offering of solutions for our customers.”

Only eight mentor-protégé teams were selected out of the 17 who participated in the competition. In her announcement letter to TRM and Raytheon, Shannon Jackson, associate director of the Mentor-Protégé Program states, “The prestigious award recognizes your team’s superb performance this year…The Nunn-Perry Awards are presented to recognize mentor-protégé teams who have demonstrated an exemplary effort in providing products and services to our warfighters. Your performance during FY17 has truly made an impact on the Department’s Industrial Base and Technology Transfer.”

Raytheon will be awarded a total of three Nunn Perry Awards for outstanding execution under the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program for the following MPP teams:

• Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and TRM Microwave of Bedford, N.H.
• Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and New England Die Cutting of Methuen, Mass.
• Raytheon Missile Systems and Fifth Gait Technologies, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Terry Downing, Raytheon IDS Mentor-Protégé Program manager, stated, “This is truly a team effort and a team win…One award is a great honor. Two in one year puts the IDS team in very rarified air. The changes that (mentors) collectively have helped to bring about at the protégés is clear. The protégés express their gratitude for the program and their thanks for the contributions all have made. They will long have the warmth of knowing that their companies are better for having been in the program and that they have been recognized for their work to improve.”

An awards ceremony will be held during the DoD Mentor-Protégé Training Week Workshop in August 2018.