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Fairfax City and Mason come together to spur economic growth and student success

Colleen Rich — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 14:06:58 +0000

Fairfax City and Mason come together to spur economic growth and student success Colleen Rich Mon, 10/02/2023 - 10:06

Fairfax City mayor and ��ӽ紫ý alumna Catherine S. Read, BA ’84, and Mason's School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé signed a partnership agreement on Oct. 2 aimed at promoting economic growth in the city while giving students access to experiential learning opportunities that will benefit local businesses and students.

Students get hands-on retail management experience at Fairfax Ace Hardware. Photo provided

This partnership will extend the walls of the business school’s classrooms into the local business community, by affording business students with the opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills across several industries in the “classroom beyond the classroom.”

“Our collaboration with the ��ӽ紫ý School of Business is about investing in our future, and being open to change and innovation,” said Read. “By welcoming Mason students and faculty into our business community, we’re bringing fresh faces and new ideas to city planning in support of our vision for a vibrant commercial district.”

“The School of Business emphasizes student experience and career readiness via public, private, and academic partnerships,” said Vinzé. “We see Mason as your hometown university, and this partnership is an exciting opportunity for us to invest in the growth and economic development of this wonderful city, while providing our students with a hands-on learning experience that will prepare them for successful careers in business.”

Experiential learning opportunities in Fairfax are expected to draw Mason students from each of the business school’s four centers of excellence—Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship (CREE), Center for Retail Transformation (CRT), and the newly named Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

a CIE-led vendor management experience for students with retailers in the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA)/FCED “Wander In” retail incubator,
a CREE site plan analysis for determining best use options of commercial real estate sites in the Northfax Small Area Plan and other areas of Fairfax City,
an in-store retail management experience with CRT students and Fairfax City retailers, and
a study by students from the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, in coordination with the Mason Enterprise Center, to identify ways to improve business outcomes for small business federal contractors.

“What makes this program unique among ‘classroom beyond the classroom’ partnerships is our collective focus on leveraging the short-term benefit of student employability into a longer-term relationship with our city and its business community,” said Christopher Bruno, executive director and CEO of FCED. “One of the reasons we decided to partner with Mason is its track record of driving economic growth in the region—close to 70% of its alumni live and work in a 50-mile radius of the Fairfax Campus—and the confidence that gives us that many of the relationships we form now with Mason students and alumni are going to serve as a magnet for new businesses in the future.”

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Ajay Vinzé

She has ideas to bring Mason and Fairfax City together

“You look at our downtown and where are the students, where is the activity, where is the energy?” said Catherine Read, the first Mason alum, and first woman, to be Fairfax mayor. "What kind of things can we do between the campus and the city? That’s what we should be asking ourselves."

Learn more about her plans >>

New Fairfax City Partnership with ��ӽ紫ý School of Business to Promote Economic Growth While Affording Student Access to Experiential Learning Opportunities

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 12:42:44 +0000

New Fairfax City Partnership with ��ӽ紫ý School of Business to Promote Economic Growth While Affording Student Access to Experiential Learning Opportunities Marianne Klinker Thu, 09/28/2023 - 08:42

Fairfax City Economic Development and ��ӽ紫ý Come Together to Spur Economic Growth and Student Success Through Experiential Learning

Fairfax City, VA – Fairfax City mayor and ��ӽ紫ý alumna Catherine S. Read (BA ’84) and ��ӽ紫ý School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé will sign a partnership agreement on October 2 aimed at promoting economic growth in the city while giving students access to experiential learning opportunities that will benefit local businesses and students.

Joining Mayor Read and Dean Vinzé for the signing ceremony, which will also include the presentation of a proclamation by the mayor, will be Fairfax City Government and Economic Development officials, along with ��ӽ紫ý School of Business leaders, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. “Our collaboration with the ��ӽ紫ý School of Business is about investing in our future, and being open to change and innovation,” said Mayor Read. “By welcoming Mason students and faculty into our business community, we’re bringing fresh faces and new ideas to city planning in support of our vision for a vibrant commercial district.”

FCED officials and representatives from the business school review the conceptual layout of the Northfax West development project.

“The School of Business emphasizes student experience and career readiness via public, private, and academic partnerships,” said Dean Vinzé. “We see Mason as your hometown university, and this partnership is an exciting opportunity for us to invest in the growth and economic development of this wonderful city, while providing our students with a hands-on learning experience that will prepare them for successful careers in business.” Experiential learning opportunities in Fairfax are expected to draw Mason students from each of the business school’s four centers of excellence—Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship (CREE), Center for Retail Transformation (CRT), and the newly named Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

Students get hands-on retail management experience at Fairfax Ace Hardware.

With some programs already underway and additional planning discussions on the horizon, both sides are looking forward to expanding the current collaboration in the spring. Among the projects slated to launch are a CIE-led vendor management experience for students with retailers in the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA)/FCED “Wander In” retail incubator, a CREE site plan analysis for determining best use options of commercial real estate sites in the Northfax Small Area Plan and other areas of Fairfax City, an in-store retail management experience with CRT students and Fairfax City retailers, and a study by students from the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, in coordination with the Mason Enterprise Center, to identify ways to improve business outcomes for small business federal contractors.

Fairfax City Economic Development is a collaboration between the Fairfax City Economic Development Office and the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority, an independent agency administered by a commission appointed by the City Council to promote economic development activity within Fairfax. Fairfax City Economic Development helps attract businesses to the city, encourages and develops programs that foster connections between businesses, residents, and visitors of Fairfax, and spearheads innovative programs and strategies devoted to positioning Fairfax City as an ideal location to start, grow, and scale a business. It is a founding member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance. Learn more at fairfaxcityconnected.com.

��ӽ紫ý is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolled over 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states for the fall 2023 semester. Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. Also in 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a $1 billion comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and sustainability. Learn more at gmu.edu.

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Center for Retail Transformation

Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship

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Media Contacts

Chris Bruno
(703) 638-8031
christopher.bruno@fairfaxva.gov

Duane Bailey
(703) 283-2073
dbaile8@gmu.edu

In This Story

Ajay Vinzé

Promoting Greater Collaboration Between Industry and Government

Colleen Rich — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 20:32:42 +0000

Promoting Greater Collaboration Between Industry and Government Colleen Rich Fri, 03/03/2023 - 15:32

The Baroni investment will expand opportunities for center research activities and student engagement and contribute to a new space.

Greg and Camille Baroni strongly believe in giving back to the communities in which they live and work. Photo provided.

In November, ��ӽ紫ý announced the largest gift to a School of Business center from Attain Partners founder and CEO Greg Baroni and his wife, Camille. The first-of-its-kind university center to address business, technology, policy, and regulatory issues in government contracting, the Center for Government Contracting will be renamed the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting. The nonpartisan entrepreneurial center is the first donor-named center within Mason’s School of Business.

“We are grateful to the Baronis for their gift, which will help transform the center and build tomorrow’s workforce for both government and industry,” says Mason President Gregory Washington. “Recognizing that the nation’s future success depends on a thriving and diverse education workforce, and through partnerships across industry and government, Mason sets itself apart and is focused on solutions to our biggest challenges as a nation and within the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Mason’s Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, established in 2019, conducts impactful research on the broad array of critical issues facing the $500+ billion government contracting community. Center staff and affiliated faculty produce significant research ranging from commentary pieces in influential outlets to white papers and essays on pressing government contracting issues. These publications are widely read by government and industry leaders and have resulted in national and regional media coverage of center research.

With its proximity to the federal government and location at the center of the Northern Virginia business corridor, the center also serves as a gathering point for industry discussions and conferences on such topics as U.S. Department of Defense budget reform, small business innovation, intellectual property policy, and defense acquisitions best practices.

The Baronis’ investment in Mason is spurred by their desire to promote a new level of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration between government and industry to work together toward mutually beneficial outcomes. Greg and Camille’s gift will allow the expansion of center research activities and student engagement and contribute to a new convening space as part of Mason’s School of Business building.

“We are excited to partner with Mason to support and advance the government contracting industry,” says Greg Baroni. “Higher education is key to growing the industry and building diverse talent for tomorrow’s workforce. ��ӽ紫ý is well positioned to drive innovation and collaboration, and we’re proud to be a part of this next chapter.”

Greg Baroni, a “GovCon” industry leader recognized for providing business and technology solutions for public-sector markets, is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Attain Partners, a professional services company focused on delivering asset-powered, tech-enabled solutions for education, government, health care, and nonprofit organizations. He is also the founder and managing partner of Attain Capital Partners and Attain Sports & Entertainment. Greg serves as chair of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and is on the board of directors of the Professional Services Council.

He received Washington Exec’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pinnacle Awards, an annual program highlighting successful executives and businesses fostering innovation for their federal government clients across the region.

Camille Baroni began her career in banking and finance as a junior portfolio manager at First American Bankshares. During various mergers and corporate changes, she quickly rose through the ranks and served as manager of Nationsbank’s Washington, D.C., Metro Region Investment Division, where she oversaw the investment, trading, and management of approximately $500 million in assets. After a successful and fast-paced career, she chose to leave the corporate world to lead operations at home and care for their three children.

“The name Baroni symbolizes innovation, commitment, and leaders at hip across a host of industries and sectors,” says Ajay Vinzé, dean of the School of Business. “Mason’s School of Business embraces these same qualities, which is evident in our research and our students. It is an honor to have our center named after a benefactor and industry leader who shares our goals.”

Jerry McGinn, the center’s executive director, agrees, saying, “This gift will propel the center onto the national scene as the preeminent leader for research, innovation, and impact in government contracting.”

Education and Training in the Heart of the Federal Contracting Industry

From its inception, the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting has focused on education and training as one of its core lines of effort—including an ever-expanding range of offerings for students, government agencies, and business.

With more than 10,000 alumni working in government and business, and a prime location in the heart of the federal contracting industry, the center works closely with the School of Business’s Office of Career Services to partner with companies and government agencies in creating opportunities in a community that provides 40 percent of the local GDP.

Additional resources include an undergraduate GovCon minor, graduate-level accounting certificates, and a Student Ambassador Program connecting mentors from Advisory Board member companies to undergraduate and graduate students. The purpose of the ambassador program is to attract talent to work in the vital government contracting industry.

More From the Baroni Center for Government Contracting

The Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting

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NVTC Chair Greg Baroni and wife, Camille, make critical investment in Mason’s Center for Government Contracting

Colleen Rich — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 19:11:03 +0000

NVTC Chair Greg Baroni and wife, Camille, make critical investment in Mason’s Center for Government Contracting Colleen Rich Wed, 11/30/2022 - 14:11

��ӽ紫ý announced the largest gift to a center within the School of Business from Attain Partners founder and CEO Greg Baroni and his wife, Camille. The first-of-its-kind university center to address business, technology, policy, and regulatory issues in government contracting, the Center for Government Contracting will change its name to the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting in honor of the new donors. The nonpartisan entrepreneurial center will be the first donor-named center within Mason’s School of Business.

Greg and Camille Baroni. Photo provided

“We are grateful to the Baronis for their gift, which will help transform the center and build tomorrow’s workforce for both government and industry,” said Mason President Gregory Washington. “Recognizing that the nation’s future success depends on a thriving and diverse education workforce, and through partnerships across industry and government, Mason sets itself apart and is focused on solutions to our biggest challenges as a nation and within the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

The investment by the Baronis in Mason is spurred by their desire to promote a new level of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration between government and industry to work together toward mutually beneficial outcomes. The Baroni gift will allow the expansion of center research activities and student fellowships and contribute to a new space for convening as part of Mason’s School of Business building.

“We are excited to partner with Mason to support and advance the government contracting industry,” said Greg Baroni. “Higher education is key to growing the industry and building diverse talent for tomorrow’s workforce. ��ӽ紫ý is well positioned to drive innovation and collaboration and we’re proud to be a part of this next chapter.”

Baroni, a “GovCon” industry leader recognized for providing business and technology solutions for the public sector markets, is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Attain Partners, a professional services company focused on delivering asset-powered, tech-enabled solutions for education, government, health care, and nonprofit organizations. He also is founder and managing partner of Attain Capital Partners and Attain Sports & Entertainment. In addition, Baroni serves as chair of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) and serves on the board of directors of the Professional Services Council (PSC).

On Wednesday, Baroni received Washington Exec’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pinnacle Awards, an annual program highlighting successful executives and businesses fostering innovation for their federal government clients across the region.

The center also serves as a convener of industry discussions and conferences on such topics as Department of Defense budget reform, small business innovation, intellectual property policy, and defense acquisition best practices.

“The name Baroni symbolizes innovation, commitment, and leadership across a host of industries and sectors,” said Ajay Vinzé, dean of the School of Business. “��ӽ紫ý’s School of Business embraces these same qualities, which is evident in our research and our students. It is an honor to have our center named after a benefactor and industry leader who shares our goals.”

Jerry McGinn, the center’s executive director, said, “This gift will propel the center onto the national scene as the preeminent leader for research, innovation, and impact in government contracting.”

��ӽ紫ý’s School of Business will celebrate the partnership and investment in the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at an upcoming event to be announced soon.

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Northern Virginia Technology Council Chair Greg Baroni and Wife, Camille, Make Critical Investment in ��ӽ紫ý’s Center for Government Contracting

Melanie Balog — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:55:11 +0000

Northern Virginia Technology Council Chair Greg Baroni and Wife, Camille, Make Critical Investment in ��ӽ紫ý’s Center for Government Contracting Melanie Balog Wed, 11/30/2022 - 08:55

Fairfax, Va., Nov. 30, 2022 — ��ӽ紫ý announced the largest gift to a center within the School of Business from Attain Partners founder and CEO Greg Baroni and his wife, Camille. The first-of-its-kind university center to address business, technology, policy, and regulatory issues in government contracting, the Center for Government Contracting will change its name to the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting in honor of the new donors. The non-partisan entrepreneurial center will be the first donor-named center within Mason’s School of Business.

“We are grateful to the Baronis for their gift which will help transform the center and build tomorrow’s workforce for both government and industry,” said Mason President Gregory Washington. “Recognizing that the nation’s future success depends on a thriving and diverse education workforce, and through partnerships across industry and government, Mason sets itself apart and is focused on solutions to our biggest challenges as a nation and within the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Baroni, a “GovCon” industry leader recognized for providing business and technology solutions for the public sector markets, is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Attain Partners, a professional services company focused on delivering asset-powered, tech-enabled solutions for education, government, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. He also is founder and managing partner of Attain Capital Partners and Attain Sports & Entertainment. In addition, Baroni serves as Chair of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) and serves on the Board of Directors of the Professional Services Council (PSC).

Today, Baroni will receive Washington Exec’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pinnacle Awards, an annual program highlighting successful executives and businesses fostering innovation for their federal government clients across the region.

Leveraging its proximity to the federal government and at the center of the Northern Virginia business corridor, Mason’s Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, established in 2019, conducts impactful research on the broad array of critical issues facing the $500-plus billion government contracting community.

The center also serves as a convener of industry discussions and conferences on topics such as Department of Defense budget reform, small business innovation, intellectual property policy, and defense acquisition best practices.

“The name Baroni symbolizes innovation, commitment, and leadership across a host of industries and sectors,” said Ajay Vinzé, dean of the School of Business. “��ӽ紫ý’s School of Business embraces these same qualities, which is evident in our research and our students. It is an honor to have our center named after a benefactor and industry leader who shares our goals.”

Jerry McGinn, the center’s executive director, said, “This gift will propel the center onto the national scene as the preeminent leader for research, innovation, and impact in government contracting.”

��ӽ紫ý’s School of Business will celebrate the partnership and investment in the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at an upcoming event to be announced soon.

Greg and Camille Baroni. Photo provided

The Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting

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Facilitating a Paradigm Shift: An Acquisition Playbook for the Information Age

Marianne Klinker — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:50:35 +0000

Facilitating a Paradigm Shift: An Acquisition Playbook for the Information Age Marianne Klinker Wed, 12/08/2021 - 10:50

In This Story

January 19, 2021—The Center for Government Contracting at ��ӽ紫ý today announced the launch of a year-long research project to identify Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition best practices in an effort to improve the way the government and commercial companies work together.

For the past 50 years, there has been a stable consensus about the benefits of competition in the Department of Defense. Unfortunately, infrequent “winner-take-all” programs, for example, favor large incumbents and often lead to de facto monopoly positions. Contracting practices, moreover, can reinforce barriers to entry and discourage innovation.

Acquisition reform efforts have attempted to address challenges in the system for decades. Blue ribbon commissions, legislative changes, and DoD initiatives have attempted to reform how the DoD purchases systems and services from vendors. More recently, attempts to bring in commercial technology from companies in Silicon Valley resulted in efforts that have largely gone around the defense acquisition system. These critical initiatives, however, have led to innovative prototypes and exciting demonstrations that often struggle to transition to programs of record.

The time is ripe for a change in approach rather than a new set of reforms. What is needed now is a change in mindset, a paradigm shift in approaching defense acquisition. “Instead of incremental efforts or end-runs around the system, we should change how we think about defense acquisition,” said Center for Government Contracting Executive Director Jerry McGinn. The center has produced a video that describes how traditional DOD contracting practices, developed for industrial age processes, fall short in today’s information-age environment.

This study has been facilitated by generous donations in support of defense acquisition research from the Common Mission Project and a group of leading companies in defense technology: Anduril, BMNT Inc., Improbable, Scale, Balius Partners, and GoTenna. The Common Mission Project is a nonprofit dedicated to creating a global network of mission-driven entrepreneurs driven to solve the critical challenges of our time—from national security to natural disasters, from energy to the environment.

“CMP is glad to be part of this important effort to demystify the acquisition process. It is our hope that the Acquisition Playbook will help speed the adoption of technological advances that will help keep our country safe,” said Alex Gallo, CMP executive director.

An Acquisition Playbook for the Information Age

The acquisition playbook will mine the best of commercial and defense innovation and deliver a playbook that educates, informs, and provides practical approaches to government acquisition professionals to facilitate true competition throughout the acquisition life cycle.

“We are grateful for the donations from CMP and its partner companies to support acquisition research,” said McGinn. “This study will examine how DoD can more efficiently and fairly tap into the full range of innovation available in the government contracting marketplace.”

For comments or questions, please contact:

Jerry McGinn, Center Executive Director, jmcginn5@gmu.edu
Eric Lofgren, Center Fellow, elogfren@gmu.edu

The Center for Government Contracting at ��ӽ紫ý’s School of Business is a nexus for government, industry, and academia to explore issues in government contracting. The Center is the first university-based organization to address business, policy, regulatory and other issues in government contracting through research, collaboration, and education and training.

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Center for Government Contracting Press Release

��ӽ紫ý Center for Government Contracting Appoints New Research Staff

Marianne Klinker — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:46:29 +0000

��ӽ紫ý Center for Government Contracting Appoints New Research Staff Marianne Klinker Tue, 12/07/2021 - 11:46

In This Story

The Center for Government Contracting in the ��ӽ紫ý School of Business has appointed seven new researchers to support ongoing and future Center projects.

The new researchers bring a diverse set of skills and backgrounds to the Center, and from the former Administrator of the General Services Administration and senior Capitol Hill staffers to defense pricing specialists and former contracting officers, the represent the broad government contracting community. The full listing of new hires is included below.

Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center, noted, “I am honored to have such incredibly talented individuals join our team. I look forward to their contributions as we continue to grow our capabilities as the first university research center focused on addressing the important challenges facing the government contracting community today.”

As part of the Center’s mission to foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia, these appointees will conduct research, write, and lead Center initiatives on business, policy, regulatory, and other issues in government contracting.

Dedicated to excellence in research and teaching, the School of Business at ��ӽ紫ý anticipates the rapid transformation of business and acts accordingly. Faculty academic expertise combined with real-world experience provides a bridge between theory and practice, implemented through both innovative academic programs and strategic business partnerships. Ranked annually among the top 100 undergraduate business school programs and part-time MBA programs by U.S. News & World Report, the School of Business is accredited in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International.

Senior Fellows

Richard Beutel

Richard Beutel is an adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and founding Principal of Cyrrus Analytics. Cyrrus Analytics focuses upon complex challenges involving cloud acquisitions and the procurement of federal IT across the government. Beutel is the former lead acquisition and procurement policy counsel for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. In that capacity, Beutel wrote and managed the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) which was signed into law as part of the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act.

A nationally recognized expert in IT acquisition management and cloud policy, Beutel has 25 years of private sector experience and was the founder and co-managing director of the first Dell Government Relations Team.

Benjamin McMartin

Benjamin McMartin is managing partner of the Public Spend Forum, a Washington DC-based firm dedicated to enabling open government markets worldwide. He is a nationally recognized expert, speaker, and author in the intersection between federal procurement, intellectual property, emerging technology development, and non-traditional acquisition methodologies, who spent more than a decade developing some of the most unique procurement solutions for the Department of Defense.

McMartin previously served as Chief of the Acquisition Management Office for the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command–Ground Vehicle Systems Center, and prior to that, as a Procuring Contracting and Agreements Officer for the US Army Contracting Command–Warren. McMartin earned his J.D. from the University of Detroit-Mercy Law School and has been a member of the Michigan State Bar since 2008. He is twice the recipient of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, and a recipient of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal.

The Honorable Emily Murphy

Emily W. Murphy is a leading expert in government contracting and the business of government. Throughout her career, Emily has held multiple leadership roles in the federal government, including serving as Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration. In addition to her work at Mason, she provides strategic advice to government contractors, serves on the Boards of Advisors of SkillStorm and Vita Inclinata, and works with high growth companies as a coach with CEO Coaching International.

Fellows

Dolores Kuchina-Musina

Dolores Kuchina-Musina is a Director of Growth at the Boone Group, LLC, in Washington DC, and a doctoral candidate at Old Dominion University. She holds a graduate certificate in Public Procurement and Contract Management, is a Certified Federal Contract Manager, and has held numerous leadership positions in local non-profit organizations. Kuchina-Musina’s research interests include innovation policy, other transaction authorities, federal procurement reform, and decision-making models. Her previous work appears in the Journal of Public Procurement.

David Peeler
Colonel David Peeler, USAF retired, spent 26 years in the military financial arena and its directly linked functions of accounting, auditing, budgeting, costing, contracting, civil engineering, logistics, and program management. Peeler spent roughly half his military career in operational assignments and the other half in weapon systems acquisition and procurement positions. He was deputy director of Air Force Budget Investments in the Pentagon, where he directly oversaw Air Force Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) and procurement funds, as well as military family housing and military construction. In his last assignment, he oversaw an active budget of $255B and over $1T in weapon program cost estimates. Peeler holds two bachelors’ degrees and three masters’ across the fields of mathematics, economics, and national military strategy. He is an International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst; and the editor of the Journal of Cost Analysis and Parametrics.

Research Associates

Olivia Letts

Olivia Letts is a research associate with the Center for Government Contracting at the School of Business in ��ӽ紫ý. Her research interests include defense spending and management, emergent technology, U.S. military policy, and foreign policy. She is especially interested in the industrial supply chain’s link to national security, and in researching ways to improve efficacy and cost-effectiveness in the Department of Defense. Prior to working for the Center, Letts worked as an associate analyst for One Defense, a company that specializes in creating business strategies for innovative companies entering the defense market and government contracting spaces. Letts received a BA from the University of Florida, and an MA from Georgetown University. Her writing has been featured in Defense News, Army Magazine, The Cipher Brief, Sarasota Magazine, and the Georgetown Security Studies Review.

Anthony Vatterott
Anthony Vatterott’s work in government contracting involved set-aside contracts, veteran-owned vendor-supplier business development, multi-year capital asset allocations, and institutional healthcare construction for a wide range of federal agencies: the General Services Administration, Veterans Affairs (VA), Army Corps of Engineers, Food and Drug Administration. His research includes an analysis of which competing supply chains are truly firm-spanning; the prevalence of supply chain performance measures at various levels of supply chain integration; the implications of disruption for global supply chain innovation; strategic sustainability in airport operations; worker skills development, and the human interface with advanced analytics. Vatterott earned his PhD of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from University of Missouri–Saint Louis and received his MA in Procurement & Acquisitions Management, MBA, Master’s Certificate in Government Contracting from Webster University.

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��ӽ紫ý Wins Study to Examine Department of Defense Intellectual Property Management Policies

Marianne Klinker — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 19:49:26 +0000

��ӽ紫ý Wins Study to Examine Department of Defense Intellectual Property Management Policies Marianne Klinker Mon, 12/06/2021 - 14:49

In This Story

FAIRFAX, VA – The Center for Government Contracting in the ��ӽ紫ý School of Business has been awarded a $671,000 contract from the Department of Defense (DoD), through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). The Center will generate policy recommendations intended to assist in accelerating commercialization and innovation in dual-use technology. The Laboratories and Personnel Office in the OUSD(R&E) is the sponsor for this study, which was required under the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center for Government Contracting, remarked, “We are thrilled to have been selected for this important study on intellectual property practices for DoD and we very much look forward to working with our colleagues across the University on this effort.” Maury Peiperl, Dean of the Business School, added, “I am particularly pleased that DoD recognized the interdisciplinary nature of our proposal and we are excited to partner with our colleagues in the Scalia School of Law on this critical study.”

Ken Randall, Allison and Dorothy Rouse Dean of the Antonin Scalia Law School, said, “The Scalia Law School is pleased to be involved in this interdisciplinary collaboration, including with GMU’s outstanding Business School. Intellectual property is a focus at our law school, and we are honored to share the faculty’s expertise on this important project.”

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Center for Government Contracting Wins Over $1 Million for Defense Finance Studies

Marianne Klinker — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 17:33:01 +0000

Center for Government Contracting Wins Over $1 Million for Defense Finance Studies Marianne Klinker Fri, 12/03/2021 - 12:33

In This Story

The Center for Government Contracting at ��ӽ紫ý’s School of Business has been awarded four studies to conduct finance research for the Office of Defense Pricing and Contracting within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

These studies are part of a DoD effort with universities to undertake independent research to better understand the finance dynamics in the defense marketplace. Mason will examine free cash flow in the defense sector, the impact of cash flow by contract type and financing, financing and its impact on small businesses, and government accounting system requirements as a barrier to the commercial sector’s willingness to do business with the federal government. These studies will contribute to the first comprehensive analysis of the department’s finance policies in over thirty years. The research will be performed over eight months, beginning in June 2021.

“The Center for Government Contracting is honored to have been selected for this important research by the department and we very much look forward to conducting these studies,” said Jerry McGinn, Ph.D., executive director of the center.

School of Business Dean Maury Peiperl noted the unique role that the GovCon Center now plays for government, business, and academia. “This research will see our school’s faculty, and faculty from partner institutions, applying thought leadership in business for the public good. It will both inform our teaching and improve our students’ preparedness for the government acquisition workforce.”

For more information, contact:

Jerry McGinn, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for Government Contracting
��ӽ紫ý
School of Business
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-895-7544 Mobile | 703-993-4156 Office
jmcginn5@gmu.edu

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