Championing Small Business: NDIA Chair ML Mackey Set to Testify Before Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NDIA Small Business Chair ML Mackey to Testify Before House Small Business Committee on Innovation Programs
ARLINGTON, VA — February 24, 2025 — The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) announces that ML Mackey, Chair of NDIA's Small Business Division and member of the Executive Committee of NDIA's Board of Directors, will testify before the House Small Business Committee on Wednesday, February 26 at 10:00 a.m.
The hearing, titled “Fostering American Innovation: Insights into SBIR and STTR Programs,” will spotlight the vital role small businesses play in advancing American technological innovation through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
Ms. Mackey brings extensive expertise in fostering innovation and supporting small business growth in the defense sector. She is a Past Chair of the National Small Business Association (NSBA), has served on the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Innovation Advisory Committee, and the National Academies of Sciences Army Science and Technology Roundtable.
As the CEO of Beacon Interactive Systems, an unconventional defense contractor, Ms. Mackey has led initiatives that bridge commercial sector innovation with national security priorities. Under her leadership, Beacon Interactive Systems has effectively partnered with the Department of Defense to apply cutting-edge commercial expertise to address critical defense needs.
"The SBIR and STTR programs are vital for ensuring that America’s small businesses remain at the forefront of technological advancement, contributing to our national security and economic strength," said Mackey. "I look forward to discussing how we can continue to support and expand these important programs."
For information about the HSBC hearing, visit: smallbusiness.house.gov
For media inquiries, please contact:
Rachel Sutherland
Director of PR and Communications
National Defense Industrial Association
Email: rsutherland@NDIA.org