APRIL 2019
New approach to contracting could make Maryland epicenter of cyber innovation

If Fort Meade agencies, commands and contractors can find ways to partner with small, non-traditional, highly innovative companies, Maryland can become the epicenter of cyber innovation.

That was the challenge — and goal — presented to attendees at the FMA’s 7 th Annual Industry Day by Teresa Shea, Former Executive Vice President of Technology for In-Q-Tel, Inc. and Former NSA Director of Signals Intelligence.

In her keynote speech, Shea said contractors’ ability to bring emerging technologies and innovative solutions into America’s cyber operations is essential to national security.

“I hope nobody in this room doubts that we are in a fight because we are in a fight … and we’re losing that fight,” she said. “I think we are eroding and we need to change how we do our business to get ahead.” Read More
Agencies try new contracting practices while searching for innovation  

New contracting vehicles, a quest for innovation and increasingly busy contracting schedules were key topics of discussion when senior acquisition officials from the National Security Agency, the Defense Information Systems Agency and U.S. Cyber Command spoke at the FMA’s 7th Annual Industry Day.

Participants in the Government Agency Panel described how new leaders, reorganization efforts, changing budgets and ever evolving mission needs are impacting contracting practices.

Although Cyber Command is still in the process of standing up its acquisition operations, contracting levels have been increasing dramatically. Read More
Hazardous conditions fuel talks about state takeover of B-W Parkway

Six-inch-deep potholes, emergency repairs, a reduced speed limit and an accelerated repaving program have rekindled the debate about transferring ownership of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to the State of Maryland.

“This year, the condition of the roadway deteriorated so rapidly that it became a national security issue,” said Stuart Title, Chair of the FMA’s Transportation Committee. “If there was an incident in the middle of the night and people had to rush to Cyber Command or NSA, they would have to deal with poor lighting and big potholes on the parkway. Somebody could hit a six-inch pothole and buckle their car frame while they are trying to go do work that is essential to our security.”

National Park Service personnel and highway contractors have been working intensively to repair the parkway for the past three months. Read More
High School Students from Baltimore and Harford County engage in STEM presentations

The Fort Meade Alliance held their Spring Tech Mania on Friday, April 5 for more than 100 ninth grade students from Baltimore and Harford Counties. 

The event took place at Community College of Baltimore County’s Essex Campus (CCBC) and was filled with STEM presentations from FMA members.
The students were from Kenwood High School and Patapsco High School in Baltimore County; C. Milton Wright High School and Harford Technical High School in Harford County. 

“Many of my students said they learned more on this field trip than any other they have been on,” said Karen Sigwart, PLTW Engineering and AP Physics Teacher at C. Milton Wright High School. “This was a great opportunity for the kids to see how what they are learning in the classroom can be applied out in the real world and how they can pursue careers in STEM.”  Read More
Did you know...
FGGM generates a total of $21.6 billion in economic activity, according to the Maryland Economic Impact Study of Military Facilities , a report released by the Maryland Department of Commerce in 2019. FGGM accounts for 41 percent of the DoD payroll in all of Maryland and represents 6 percent of the total GDP.
Say hello to our newest members
Acquired Data Solutions
Bri-Bet Security Solutions
Critical Power Group  
Cybrary, Inc. 
Ennoble First 
Hartman Executive Advisors 
J.P.Morgan Chase 
Jazz Networks 
NiSUS Technologies Corporation 
Q's Vision LLC
QuTech
Sabre Engineering, Inc. 
SafeNet Assured Technologies
TrainACE 
Trident Builders LLC 
Zimperium, Inc. 
Upcoming Event
MBC Rate Development & Pricing Strategies
April 24, 2019
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Fort Meade Alliance Offices
7467 Ridge Road, Suite 220, Hanover, Maryland, 21076
Registration is limited to
1 & 2 Star Members.
Save the Date
May 22, 2019
MBC Session: How to Access Government Funding
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
FMA Offices
7467 Ridge Road, Suite 220
Hanover, MD 21076

Registration is limited to 1 & 2 Star Members and will open soon!
June 13, 2019
FMA Annual Meeting
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
BWI Hilton,
1739 W Nursery Rd,
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090


Registration to open soon!
Mission Partners
LM logo
5 Star Partners
Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation
ASRC Federal
Boeing Intelligence & Analytics
CACI
Chugach Government Solutions
Ciena Government Solutions, Inc. (CGSI)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Deloitte LLP
Engility Corporation
Howard County Economic Development Authority
KeyW Corporation
LG-TEK
ManTech International Corporation
Parsons
PCI
Praxis Engineering
Raytheon
Tower Federal Credit Union
Vision Technologies
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Patriot Partners
Aronson, LLC
ClearEdge
DataStax, Inc.
Howard Community College
National Instruments 
Y-Tech, LLC
Granting Sponsor