AVIAN

What AVIAN does

AVIAN, Inc. is a Maryland-incorporated, employee-owned (49% ESOP since 2018) defense and federal-civilian professional services contractor founded in 2005 by Navy H-53 helicopter pilot Jeff Sherman and headquartered in Lexington Park, MD, with a secondary office in Panama City Beach, FL and a new site lead in Huntsville, AL established July 2024. The company delivers engineering, test and evaluation (T&E), digital engineering / Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), acquisition support, counter-threat / counter-UAS training, and strategic communications/multimedia services to the U.S. Department of Defense (primarily the Naval Air Systems Command program offices — PMA-209, PMA-234, PMA-262 — and the Office of Naval Research) and, more recently, to federal civilian agencies such as the Department of Transportation / Volpe Center. Two 2021 acquisitions, redUAS (counter-UAS tactics and training) and Level Up LLC (workforce development consulting, retained as a wholly-owned subsidiary), extended the service line beyond the original Navy T&E franchise.

AVIAN's underlying delivery model is built around deeply embedded, cleared personnel delivering mission-specific engineering and training outputs — for example, exclusive or first-mover T&E work on the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned aircraft and Airborne Mine Countermeasures, combined with structured training courseware built on adult-learning theory and a state-of-the-art internal video production team (7thCIRCUS). The business model is a classic government services prime contractor structure: long-term, cost-reimbursable / labor-hour / firm-fixed-price task orders competed through multiple-award contract vehicles that AVIAN holds as a prime, including SeaPort-NxG (all seven geographic zones across NAVSEA, NAVAIR, SPAWAR, NAVFAC, NAVSUP, ONR, MSC, and the Marine Corps), the governmentwide OASIS+ IDIQ (10-year period of performance with no contract ceiling), GSA Multiple Award Schedule, the Air Force EWAAC, and the RAPID MAC at Webster Outlying Field. Veteran-owned small business status plus 49% employee ownership via ESOP are core structural features that shape both its bid posture (set-aside access) and its recruitment / retention model.

In April 2026, co-founder-era CEO Kevin Switick was succeeded by George F. Franz, with Switick remaining Chairman, signaling a deliberate founder-to-professional-manager transition while maintaining board continuity. Reported funding profile is private with no institutional or PE backing disclosed; the firm is consistently named on the Inc. 5000 (10 consecutive years) and is a multi-year HIRE Vets Medallion Gold recipient ranked #2 in Maryland for veteran employment, underscoring a culture-led recruiting model anchored on veteran talent for cleared defense work.

Name

AVIAN

Legal name

AVIAN, Inc.

Website

https://avian.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

AVIAN is an employee-owned, Maryland-based defense contractor providing engineering, test and evaluation, Model-Based Systems Engineering, counter-UAS training, and strategic communications services to U.S. Navy program offices, ONR, and the DOT/Volpe Center through SeaPort-NxG, OASIS+, and GSA vehicles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Defense Engineering Services

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft (3721), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Security Training, Compliance & Audits (AVSEC Programs) (BPAKAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aviation Security (AVSEC) Training (BPAKAOAM), Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

Keywords

• Defense engineering services
• Test and evaluation
• Counter-UAS training
• Systems engineering
• Strategic communications

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Services Contracts: Professional services revenue through multiple award IDIQ contracts (SeaPort-NxG, OASIS+, GSA MAS) providing engineering, test & evaluation, program management, training, and strategic communications services to federal agencies. Contract types include Fixed-Price, Cost-Reimbursement, Labor-Hour, and Time and Materials.
2. Acquisition Support: Systems engineering and acquisition support services including requirements definition, program management, logistics support, and technical documentation for defense acquisition programs
3. Training & Multimedia Services: Training courseware development, video production, strategic communications, and virtual tour services delivered to government customers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AVIAN is a defense and federal professional services contractor that delivers engineering, test and evaluation, digital/MBSE, acquisition support, counter-threat (counter-UAS) training, and strategic communications/multimedia services to U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and federal civilian agencies. Services are delivered through prime positions on governmentwide IDIQ contract vehicles (SeaPort-NxG, OASIS+, GSA MAS, EWAAC, RAPID MAC) and supported by wholly owned subsidiaries Level Up LLC (workforce training) and redUAS (counter-UAS tactics).

Product overview

AVIAN is a defense and government services contractor that offers a portfolio of professional services rather than packaged software products. The company provides Digital Engineering, Systems Engineering, Test and Evaluation (T&E), Counter Threat Solutions (CTS), Strategic Communications, and Video Production services. AVIAN operates primarily through government contract vehicles including SeaPort-NxG, OASIS+, and GSA Multiple Award Schedule. The company has acquired subsidiaries including Level Up LLC (workforce development) and redUAS (counter-UAS training). Their AVIAN Media Network produces four podcasts: Model Vision, Space Shovel, Work Awesome, and Full Frame. Services are delivered through various divisions including The Storytellers (training and multimedia), AIMS (strategic communications), and 7thCIRCUS (video production).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 7thCIRCUS: Video production team using state-of-the-art equipment for corporate video content creation.
• Sapphire Solutions
• Space Shovel
• Model Vision
• Work Awesome
• Full Frame
• AVIAN Information and Multimedia Services (AIMS)

Products and services

• Digital Engineering

Quantifiable outcome

• First non-OEM contractor to support MQ-8 Fire Scout ITT (2008)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Attollo LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2025AVIAN and Attollo LLC forged a Mentor-Protege partnership in March 2025 to strengthen defense capabilities. This SBA-approved mentor-protege relationship provides business development support and technical assistance from AVIAN to the smaller Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Attollo LLC.
• New Mexico TechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022AVIAN won a 4-year unmanned training contract with New Mexico Tech in 2022. The partnership supports the Drone Awareness and Response Techniques (DART) training program that equips first responders and law enforcement nationwide with tools to counter emerging drone threats.
• Level Up LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2021AVIAN acquired Level Up LLC in November 2021. Level Up operates as a subsidiary of AVIAN and specializes in consulting and professional services. Randy Carr serves as President of Level Up LLC, reporting to AVIAN executive leadership.
• SkillBridgeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2021AVIAN partners with SkillBridge, a DoD program that connects transitioning service members with industry training and apprenticeships. AVIAN helps retiring veterans transition to civilian careers through this partnership.
• redUAScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2021AVIAN acquired counter-UAS tactics and training company redUAS in August 2021. This acquisition expanded AVIAN's capabilities in drone awareness and counter-drone training, adding to their Counter Threat Solutions portfolio. The acquisition is part of AVIAN's strategy to grow emerging solutions offerings.
• ASEC (Advanced Science & Engineering Corp)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2020ASEC-AVIAN Joint Venture was awarded a five-year Advanced Sensor System Development and Execution contract in December 2020. This joint venture combines capabilities of both companies to pursue defense sensor development opportunities.
• ABSI DefenseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2020Mentor Protege relationship forged between AVIAN and ABSI Defense in November 2020. This partnership provided business development support from AVIAN as mentor to the protégé ABSI Defense.
• redUAS (Counter-UAS Venture)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2017AVIAN joined counter-UAS tactics and training venture redUAS in June 2017, initially as a partner before acquiring the company in 2021. The venture focused on counter-drone training and threat assessment.
• College of Southern Maryland (CSM)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2017AVIAN partnered with College of Southern Maryland to provide workforce training beginning Fall 2017. Partnership focuses on STEM education and workforce development initiatives. AVIAN President Kevin Switick also joined CSM Foundation board in 2021.
• Various SeaPort-e Team SubcontractorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAVIAN's SeaPort-e team includes 50+ large and small business subcontractors including Booz Allen Hamilton, ManTech, SAIC, Deloitte, General Dynamics, Honeywell, and others. These teammates support task order performance on Navy engineering and program management contracts.
• Various Joint Venture TeammatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAVIAN has extensive teaming arrangements with subcontractors on various contracts including J.F. Taylor, Zenetex, CRL Technologies Inc., AM Pierce & Associates, American Electronics, Booz Allen Hamilton, Camber Corporation, SAIC, and many others listed on SeaPort-e team page.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SAIC: Large federal services prime that competes directly with AVIAN on SeaPort-NxG and NAVAIR task orders, providing systems engineering, digital engineering, and T&E services to Navy and joint DoD customers.
• Leidos: One of the largest federal-services primes and incumbent on NAVAIR/NAWCAD engineering contracts (acquired ManTech in 2022); competes with AVIAN for many of the same IDIQ task orders across Navy aviation and intelligence programs.
• General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT): Major federal-services subsidiary of General Dynamics providing systems engineering, IT, and T&E support to Navy and DoD customers; comparable as a SeaPort-NxG prime competitor.
• Parsons Corporation: Defense and federal-services contractor with growing footprint in Navy, missile defense, and counter-UAS solutions — competes with AVIAN for engineering, T&E, and emerging threat-related programs.
• CACI International: Federal IT and engineering services prime with deep Navy and intelligence community presence, providing T&E, systems engineering, and intelligence-related professional services — overlaps with AVIAN's SeaPort-NxG and IDIQ strategy.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Listed as a SeaPort-e teammate of AVIAN and a direct competitor for systems engineering, digital engineering, and acquisition-support work for the Navy, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.

Direct peers

• DCS Corp: Mid-size U.S. defense engineering and technical-services firm supporting Navy aviation, C4I, and platform integration programs — directly comparable to AVIAN in size, end-customers (NAVAIR/NAWCAD), and SeaPort-NxG prime positioning.
• COLSA Corporation: Huntsville-based defense engineering services contractor providing systems engineering, T&E, and IT support to Army aviation, MDA, and DoD — comparable mid-tier federal-services peer with overlapping IDIQ strategy and engineering headcount profile.

Emerging players

• Dedrone: Commercial counter-UAS detection and airspace-security vendor; comparable to AVIAN's Counter Threat Solutions / redUAS franchise as a counter-drone market participant with overlapping federal and first-responder go-to-market.
• DroneShield: Australia-based counter-UAS hardware and training provider with growing U.S. federal customer base; comparable to AVIAN/redUAS in counter-drone training services and threat assessment deliverables.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@avianmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/theavianway
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avian-inc
• Xx.com/theavianway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AVIAN