HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Security Forces Tactical Security System team here recently received the Department of the Air Force Office of Small Business Programs Director's Small Business Innovation Award for its acquisition efforts supporting security forces operations.
The award recognizes teams and individuals who demonstrated excellence, initiative, and leadership to enhance small business outcomes through the DAF’s Small Business Innovation Research program.
"This award rightly recognizes the Tactical Security System team for their exceptional results," said Lea Kirkwood, portfolio acquisition executive with Electronic Systems Directorate. "They successfully navigated significant challenges to deliver a vital, rapidly deployable security system, demonstrating a deep commitment to both the warfighter and our industrial base. Their approach—forging strong partnerships with small businesses and leveraging existing technology—is a strategic model for the future of Air Force acquisitions.”
The Hanscom AFB team earned the honor for developing and acquiring deployable tactical security systems through an innovative contracting strategy that accelerated capability delivery while expanding opportunities for small businesses.
Award recipients were Capt. Joshua Renick, Capt. Stephanie Hodges, Evan O'Connell, Capt. Benjamin Paulk and Andrew St. Maurice.
“This award is deeply meaningful and highly memorable,” said Renick, Force Protection Systems Modernization Branch contracting chief. “It serves as a powerful validation of our team's relentless hard work, smart risk-taking and unwavering mission focus.”
The contract will provide the Air Force Security Forces Center with deployable tactical security systems that enable Phoenix Ravens to respond to ground-based threats at austere drop-in bases and forward arming and refueling points.
Before awarding the contract, the team spent 10 months conducting market research, engaging 27 vendors through five requests for information. The collaboration refined the team's acquisition strategy while encouraging innovation from industry partners.
“We refused to design this requirement in a vacuum,” said Renick. “By actively listening to our industry partners, we realized we could deliver a faster, more cost-effective solution by leveraging existing technologies through the SBIR program rather than embarking on a costly, multi-year, high-risk development effort from scratch.”
James Antonoplos, Yesenia Barreto, Jeffrey Francis, Brian Fuller, Capt. Wongsai Heur, Cheryrl Pleuler and Matthew Thompson also contributed to the effort.
The multidisciplinary team includes personnel in contracting, program management, financial management, cost analysis, legal, logistics, cybersecurity and engineering.
The Electronic Systems' Forces Tactical Security System team manages the modernization, acquisition, deployment and worldwide sustainment of physical security, force protection and tactical situational awareness systems.
“We were bound together by a singular, shared focus: delivering a reliable, cyber-secure, and rapidly deployable tactical security system to empower our defenders,” said Renick. “This award is a testament to the fact that when a multi-functional team operates with mutual trust, open communication, and a shared mission, they can overcome any administrative or legal hurdle.”