The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program is the pre-eminent program within the Federal government for the transformation of a small business firm with high potential to a firm of substance, that is, one able to perform well as a prime contractor and/or a subcontractor. In the event that the small business firm possesses commercial capabilities with a domestic or global orientation, the firm’s potential becomes stronger yet.

The process assumes all stakeholders (Mentor, Protégé, and DoD) enter an Agreement with a positive outlook and a need to succeed in a documented way by improving revenues, employment levels, and other key indicators of success such as technology enhancement or technology transfer. Increasingly, we need to address technology transfer and other forward-looking growth activities.

The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program is not merely a process of teaming and building acumen in the use of improved business systems and strengthening infrastructure, it is ultimately the means for a Protégé to become a valued business partner, an innovator within a relationship that fosters technical progress.

For the hundreds of Mentors and Protégés that have participated in the program, the consensus is that the program has been positive, constructive, and useful in building stronger business relationships, elevating small business firms to a higher level, transferring technology, and fulfilling the supply needs of the DoD.