Small Business Panel: Updates & Trends
Mr. Brian McJilton Director, Small Business, AFRL
Mr. Brian McJilton is Director of Small Business for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). He is responsible for the AFRL Small Business Programs, and the Air Force Technology Transfer and Transition (T3), commercialization and innovation programs. He focuses on developing novel interactions between AFRL researchers, small businesses and community partners to provide innovative technologies to meet Air Force requirements and AFRL small business contract award goals. His duties include the identification of small businesses that have capabilities to meet the AFRL requirements, outreach and recruitment of small businesses, transferring and commercializing AFRL intellectual property, aligning AFRL scientists and engineers with external S&T ecosystem members (e.g., university, industry, government) toward innovation initiatives, and the training of scientists, engineers and contracting officers on the small business and technology transfer programs.
Mr. Jeffrey H. Mellott Director, Small Business Programs, AFMC
Jeff Mellott is the Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command (HQ AFMC) Director of Small Business Programs located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Ohio. He is responsible for enabling relationships between Small Business enterprises and AFMC requirement owners. This is particularly important as our nation’s Small businesses can provide the innovation necessary to execute critical mission requirements. Previously, he served as Chief, Services and Strategic Acquisition Division, HQ AFMC, supporting the AFMC Executive Director in the management and oversight of a services acquisition portfolio exceeding $70B. Mr. Mellott began his contracting career in January 1987 as a Contract Negotiator in the Directorate of R&D Contracting, Wright Patterson AFB. Further assignments in the F-111, F-117 and C-130U program offices culminated in obtaining an unlimited Contracting Officer warrant in November 1994. He then served as lead Contracting Officer for the Andrews AFB VIP aircraft replacement program. This was the first commercial aircraft acquired under FAR Part 12 and received the Vice Presidential Hammer Award for Re-inventing Government. In July 2002 he accepted a position at Patrick AFB, FL and was assigned to the 45th Contracting Squadron gaining valuable experience in operational and services acquisitions. This was followed with an assignment as the Contracting Officer for the Launch Operations and Support Contract (LOSC) which provided launch support, sustainment and satellite processing for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In 2008, he returned to Wright-Patterson AFB and served as the Contracting Officer for the $2.5B Advanced Targeting Pod – Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) acquisition implementing a multiple award production and Performance Based Logistics (PBL) sustainment strategy. Followed thereafter by assignments within Air Force Life Cycle Management Center as a procurement analyst in the Directorate of Contracting and as a Branch Chief in the Agile Combat Support Directorate responsible for over $12B in contracts and 40 employees.
Ms. Suzanne Sumner Partner, Government Contracts Group, Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP
Suzanne focuses her practice on government contracts law. She has significant experience assisting prime contractors, subcontractors, and public buyers on issues related to their government contracts, from the pre-solicitation phase to contract close out. She has advised clients on issues pertaining to multi-billion dollar contracts, and provides advice on a wide variety of issues such as the interpretation of FAR and DFARS clause requirements; compliance with the Buy American Act, Berry Amendment, and Trade Agreements Act; technical data rights; small business certifications and status; submitting requests for equitable adjustment and claims; and issues related to negotiating nondisclosure, teaming, subcontract, and joint venture agreements. Suzanne conducts federal government contract compliance reviews, GSA Schedule audits, and internal company investigations. In addition, Suzanne represents clients in arbitration disputes, bid protests before agencies and the GAO, and in the filing and litigation of claims before federal courts and boards of contract appeals. Suzanne is licensed to practice law in Ohio, Colorado, Alaska, and the District of Columbia and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
PRE-LUNCHEON CHECK-IN / NETWORKING: 11:30AM-11:45AM
LUNCHEON TIME: 11:45AM-1:00PM
RSVP REQUIRED: 48 hours prior to the luncheon. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION: Individual luncheons are $30 for pre-registered members, $35 for non-members/member walk-ins, and $40 for non-member walk-ins. You may pay online or by cash, check or credit card at the event. There is currently no charge for active duty and civilian government attendees, however, a registered no-show will be charged a nominal fee to cover the cost of the meal.
To find more information and register for other upcoming DWAFCEA Events click here.
DWAFCEA ANNUAL SPONSOR RESERVATIONS SHOULD ALSO BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST TWO (2) DAYS PRIOR TO THE LUNCHEON. Please complete and submit your registration by this deadline in order to guarantee your seats. Please also include the names of your corporate attendees upon submission of your request.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Reservations will be billed unless cancelled 24 hours prior to the luncheon by contacting lisa.reineke@seguetech.com or nick.bucher@jjrsolutions.com. No-shows will receive an e-mail notification regarding payment arrangements.
Thank you to our sponsors:
