Hepburn and Sons

What Hepburn and Sons does

Hepburn and Sons LLC is a privately held, family-controlled defense contractor founded in 2010 and headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, with an operations presence at Wallops Island, Virginia. The firm provides expert advisory, naval engineering, and technology development services to the U.S. Navy, the broader Department of Defense, and major defense shipbuilders and systems integrators. It operates through three service divisions — Advisory Services, Mission Systems, and Technology Development — and supports clients across NAVSEA, PEO Ships, PMS 320, ONR, DARPA, DTRA, MDA, and the Surface Combat Systems Center, with a workforce composed predominantly of former Navy officers and senior enlisted personnel.

The company's technology stack centers on advanced shipboard electrical power solutions for Navy platforms, including a proprietary Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP) for medium-voltage DC and AC power transmission, a Modular Solid-State Transformer, a supercritical-fluid-based MVDC Disconnect Switch, resonant grounding with advanced magnetics, and ML-enhanced metrology systems for insulation health monitoring, ground fault localization, zonal DC protection, and asset health. It complements this hardware portfolio with materials and manufacturing offerings (additive friction stir deposition, impact welding, predictive laser tools, and intumescent coatings), delivered through partners including MELD Manufacturing, Applied Impulse, and Stäubli Electrical Connectors.

Hepburn and Sons generates revenue primarily through U.S. federal government prime contracts under the SeaPort-NxG (through January 2029), GSA MAS, and MDA SHIELD IDIQ vehicles, plus SBIR/STTR programs. Pricing is negotiated through standard government procurement processes and is not publicly disclosed. The firm's go-to-market is enterprise field sales leveraging deep personal relationships with Navy acquisition program offices and deployed forces, reinforced by association leadership (past presidency of ASNE and the American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association) and recurring expert-witness engagements (60+ cases since 2013). The company is family-governed, with no disclosed external investment or parent company.

Name

Hepburn and Sons

Legal name

Hepburn and Sons LLC

Website

https://hepburnandsons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hepburn and Sons is a family-controlled defense contractor providing naval engineering advisory, mission systems, and technology development services to the U.S. Navy, DoD, and defense primes, with proprietary advanced power and metrology products for shipboard applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Engineering and Defense Advisory Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Shipboard Electrical Distribution, Power Conversion & Automation (IMABAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO), Naval Shipbuilding Program Management & Defense Contracting Support (IMAJABAO)

Keywords

• Naval engineering services
• Defense advisory consulting
• Shipboard power systems
• Navy program management
• Maritime technology development

Headquarters

HQ city

Manassas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Advisory Services: Providing expert advisory and engineering services to government and maritime industry, including naval architecture, naval engineering, ship integration, program management, test planning, training, software development, cybersecurity, data analytics, and expert witness testimony.
2. Government Prime Contracts: Revenue from prime contract vehicles including SeaPort-NxG (N0017819D7760) and GSA MAS (47QRAA25D001E) providing engineering, program management, and technology development services to the U.S. Navy and DoD.
3. Technology Development and Transition: Creating technology development campaigns to shepherd technologies into federal and commercial applications, including SBIR/STTR programs and MDA SHIELD IDIQ contract vehicle.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hepburn and Sons LLC provides expert advisory and engineering services to the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, and maritime industry through three divisions: Advisory Services (strategic analysis, expert witness, technology-to-government connection), Mission Systems (naval architecture, ship integration, test planning, program management, cybersecurity, data analytics), and Technology Development (technology development campaigns transitioning R&D into federal and commercial applications). The company also develops and offers proprietary shipboard electrical power solutions, ML-enhanced metrology and health monitoring systems, and advanced materials/manufacturing solutions for naval and defense sustainment.

Product overview

Hepburn and Sons LLC is a defense contractor providing advisory services, mission systems, and technology development for the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. The company operates three service divisions (Advisory Services, Mission Systems, and Technology Development) that collectively offer a portfolio of power distribution products (Insulated Bus Pipe, Modular Solid-State Transformer, MVDC Disconnect Switch, Resonant Grounding), machine learning-enhanced monitoring systems (Insulation Health Monitoring, Ground Fault Localization, Zonal DC Protective Relay, Space and Asset Health Monitoring), and materials/manufacturing solutions (Metal Additive Manufacturing, Surface Treatment/Repair, Predictive Tool Development, Specialized Coatings). The company focuses on bridging research and development with technology transition for warfighter capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advisory Services Division Strategic advisory services for U.S. government and maritime industry clients, providing trusted advisory, strategic analysis, expert witness testimony, and connecting technology companies to government requirements.
• Mission Systems Division Naval architecture, naval engineering, ship integration, and safety services providing expert analysis, test planning, training, software development, cybersecurity, data analytics, and program coordination for U.S. Navy and DoD customers.
• Technology Development Division Technology development campaigns shepherding technologies into federal and commercial applications, encompassing project portfolio management, technology transition planning, program execution, technology scouting, innovation planning, and technical analysis.
• Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP) Rugged, touch-safe, modular MVDC/MVAC power distribution alternative to legacy cable, designed up to 3kA and 12 kV DC / 15 kV AC tested, scalable up to 8kA, with toolless assembly enabled by Stäubli Electrical Connectors; intended for U.S. Navy shipboard power distribution.
• Modular Solid-State Transformer (SST) Next-generation scalable solid-state power transformer/rectifier for naval power systems: 5 kVAC, 1 kVDC, 75 kVA in a 3.5U sailor-carriable box, 900 kVA in a 42U rack, supporting up to 15 kV (95 kV BIL) and parallelizable to 10s–100s of MW.
• MVDC Disconnect Switch Shipboard MVDC power distribution in-line isolation switch providing lock-out tag-out (LOTO) functionality for 1 kV DC up to 12 kV DC systems, using advanced supercritical-fluid-based insulator with capacity to break up to residual 2% load current.
• Resonant Grounding with Advanced Magnetics Novel magnetic-material solution for continuous MVAC grounding that withstands non-isolated rectifier ground faults, with spatially tuned magnetic permeability enabling saturation and hotspot control with natural convection cooling; mitigates up to 20A of ground fault current with less than 2.5 kW loss on 15 kV AC systems.
• Insulation Health Monitoring System Machine learning-based system that interprets partial discharge and non-destructive space charge measurements to infer power asset damage and health, discerning AC, PWM, and DC partial discharge signatures and identifying critical and non-critical damage types.
• Ground Fault Localization System System that reduces time to find and remediate power system faults by identifying feed and distance from measurement hardware; identifies ground fault occurrence within microseconds and localizes within less than 1 meter in milliseconds.
• Zonal DC Protective Relay Protective relay that identifies fault location within a zonal DC system architecture, enabling rapid isolation response and distinguishing between fault events and high slew rate pulsed loads.
• Space and Asset Health Monitoring System System performing direct and indirect measurement of vibration, blending multi-modal information to observe unmeasurable machine health metrics such as turbine blade tip stress.
• Solid State Metal Additive Manufacturing (AFSD) Additive Friction Stir Deposition (AFSD) enabling large-scale casting and forging additive manufacturing with superior material properties for shipbuilding and repair applications; offered in partnership with MELD Manufacturing Corporation.
• Metal Surface Treatment and Repair (Impact Welding) Impact welding capability enabling in-service repair of conventionally non-repairable structures and materials; offered in partnership with Applied Impulse Inc.
• Predictive Tool Development (Laser Impulse Optimization Toolset) Laser Impulse Optimization Toolset that uses experience and knowledge of laser shock peening to develop a tool for characterization and optimization of laser impulses.
• Specialized Coatings (Intumescent Fire Protection) Intumescent fire protection coating for shipboard electrical cables that expands during fire to provide shielding and insulation, preventing fire damage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Expert witness support on over 60 maritime industry cases since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Stäubli Electrical ConnectorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2025Strategic partnership to develop an improved version of Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP) tailored to meet the U.S. Navy's power distribution needs for next-generation high-energy pulsed power systems. Stäubli provides advanced connector solutions enabling toolless assembly of the IBP system.
• MELD Manufacturing CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Solid State Metal Additive Manufacturing using Additive Friction Stir Deposition (AFSD) technology. Enables large-scale casting and forging additive manufacturing with superior material properties for shipbuilding and repair applications.
• Applied Impulse Inc.supportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner for Metal Surface Treatment/Repair using Impact Welding technology. Enables in-service repair of conventionally non-repairable structures and materials.
• Virginia TechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner; David Rice serves on Materials Science and Engineering Department Advisory Board. Collaborates on research and development programs funded by ONR/ManTech and NSRP.
• FSU Center for Advanced Power SystemssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner focused on power systems research supporting Navy electrical systems development.
• National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research program for ship design and materials technology where Hepburn and Sons participates in project work.
• FAMU-FSU College of EngineeringsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner where David Gross serves as teaching faculty and research faculty. Supports digital engineering and MBSE expertise sharing.
• Florida State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Danny Georgiadis serves as Director of Systems Engineering and Professor. Collaborates on systems engineering research and development.
• Georgia Tech Research CorporationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for engineering research and development programs.
• NCSU (North Carolina State University)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for research collaboration in naval engineering and advanced technologies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Serco Inc. Federal services contractor where Hepburn and Sons Cyber SME previously worked; comparable in providing maritime, shipyard, and Navy engineering services under similar IDIQ contract structures.
• CACI International: Defense and federal services contractor competing for naval engineering, ship integration, and C4ISR-adjacent work that overlaps with Hepburn and Sons' technology development and engineering services portfolio.
• SAIC: Large federal engineering and IT services prime that competes directly for NAVSEA, ONR, and DoD advisory task orders of similar scope to Hepburn and Sons' Mission Systems and Advisory divisions.
• ManTech (now part of ManTech International / CGI): Defense technology services firm and Hepburn and Sons customer, with comparable focus on advanced technology for national security and federal engineering task orders.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Large defense consulting prime listed as a Hepburn and Sons customer and adjacent competitor for Navy engineering, advisory, and technology transition task orders across SeaPort-NxG and similar vehicles.
• Leidos: Federal engineering and defense solutions prime and Hepburn and Sons customer. Competes for many of the same NAVSEA, ONR, and DTRA engineering services opportunities.

Broad incumbents

• Huntington Ingalls Industries: Largest U.S. naval shipbuilder and Hepburn and Sons customer/partner. Comparable because it consumes the same NAVSEA and shipbuilding engineering ecosystem in which Hepburn and Sons provides advisory and engineering services.
• BAE Systems, Inc. Large defense prime and Hepburn and Sons customer that competes for ship repair, naval engineering, and combat systems integration work in the same programs.
• General Dynamics Bath Iron Works: Naval shipbuilder for the Arleigh Burke class and a Hepburn and Sons customer. Overlaps with Hepburn and Sons on surface combatant engineering, ship integration, and power system qualification work.

Regional players

• Vigor Industrial: U.S. ship repair, conversion, and fabrication yard. Comparable to Hepburn and Sons' Mission Systems division in serving NAVSEA and private shipyards on dry-dock, repair, and modernization engineering work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HepburnandSonsLLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hepburn-and-sons-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Hepburn and Sons