2007 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Awards

Monday, November 5th, 2007

A group of entrepreneurs and department acquisition officials earned praise from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England at a Pentagon award ceremony on November 5, 2007 for their support of disabled-veteran-led businesses.

Nineteen organizations and individuals were honored at the first Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Awards ceremony for their support of Presidential Executive Order 13360, which calls for the department to increase contracts and subcontracts for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.

“The military cannot perform their mission without great civilians and great companies behind the lines,” England told the award recipients, who each received a framed certificate signed by Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology James I. Finley.

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Office was established at the Pentagon by an October 2004 presidential executive order and previous legislation, Anthony R. Martoccia, the Defense Department’s director of small business programs, told reporters during an earlier roundtable meeting at the Pentagon.

Order of Events

3:30 p.m.                     Arrival of attendees/distribution of                                     name badge (registration table                                     outside room)

4:00 p.m.                     Reception Begins

4:45 p.m.                     Presentation of Colors, National                                     Anthem, and
                                    Moment of Silence

4:50 p.m.                     Welcome Address - Tony
                                    Introduction of the Keynote                                     Speaker – Dr. Finley

4:55 p.m.                     Keynote Address – Mr. England

5:05 p.m.                     Announcements and Order of                                     Events – Charles

5:10 p.m.                     SDVOSB Golden Talon Awards –                                     Charles

5:20 p.m.                     SDVOSB Prime Subcontracting                                     Awards – Charles

5:30 p.m.                     SDVOSB Achievement Awards –                                     John Lopez

5:40 p.m.                     Veteran Service Organization –                                     Rick Weidman

5:45 p.m.                     Closing Remarks - Tony

5:55 p.m.                     Networking Session/Reception

6:20 p.m.                     Ceremony Concludes