Developer docs
API playgroundTry for free, no card

Search company profiles

McKean Defense

Full company profile

uuid002oawu

Namestring
McKean Defense
Legal namestring
Noblis
Websiteurl
mckean-defense.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
1996
Descriptiontext

McKean Defense is an employee-owned, private U.S. government services company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2006, the firm provides Naval life cycle management, engineering, enterprise transformation, and program management services to the U.S. Navy and adjacent Department of Defense customers. Its service portfolio centers on supporting Navy platforms and programs across their full life cycle — from concept and acquisition through sustainment and modernization — with capabilities spanning systems engineering, program management, and enterprise-level digital transformation support.

The company operates with 501-1,000 employees, positioning it as a mid-size federal contractor rather than a large prime or a small boutique specialist. The employee-ownership structure is a defining governance characteristic, distinguishing McKean Defense from both publicly traded defense primes and conventional private-equity-backed government services roll-ups, and aligning long-term incentives between cleared technical staff and customer delivery. The Philadelphia headquarters situates the firm in close proximity to key U.S. Navy engineering and acquisition commands, including elements of the Naval Surface Warfare Center ecosystem, which underpins incumbent positioning on ship and submarine life-cycle work.

The business model is consistent with mid-tier federal services contracting: revenue is generated through long-duration task orders, IDIQ contract vehicles, and program-support engagements with Navy program offices, with delivery executed by cleared engineering and program management personnel. No productized commercial software, no AI/ML platform offering, and no disclosed customer logos outside the federal defense vertical are referenced in the available data, indicating a services-only revenue model concentrated on a single agency end-market.

Short descriptiontext

McKean Defense is an employee-owned Philadelphia-based government services firm that provides Naval life cycle management, engineering, enterprise transformation, and program management support primarily to the U.S. Navy.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
501–1,000
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
HQ citystring
Philadelphia
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
naval lifecycle management, naval engineering services, defense program management, enterprise transformation consulting, naval systems engineering
Industry3 codes
1Naval Shipbuilding Program Management & Defense Contracting Support
CodeIMAJABAOPrimaryYes
2Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare
CodeIMABAKAEPrimaryNo
3Naval Combat Systems Integration & Mission Systems
CodeIMABAKABPrimaryNo
NAICS code2 codes
  • Ship Building and Repairing336611
  • Ship and Boat Building3366
SIC code2 codes
  • Ship & Boat Building & Repairing3730
  • Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys3812
Product category
Naval Engineering Services
Cost components2 values
Personnel, Operations
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

McKean Defense provides Naval Life Cycle Management, Engineering, Enterprise Transformation, and Program Management services to naval defense customers. The company supports naval vessels, systems, and programs across their full operational lifespan, from engineering and planning through sustainment and modernization.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product and service1 record
1Naval Life Cycle Management
Recent move1 record

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description

Peers7 records
1Leidos
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Large federal services and engineering prime with significant Navy surface and undersea engineering, lifecycle management, and digital transformation work. Competes for the same Navy engineering and program management task orders.

2BAE Systems (U.S. Navy & Integrated Defense Solutions)
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Global defense prime with substantial U.S. Navy ship repair, modernization, and lifecycle services through its Norfolk Ship Repair and San Diego facilities. Competes for surface fleet sustainment and engineering work that overlaps McKean Defense's offering.

3Serco
TypeDirect peer
Description

Mid-to-large federal services contractor with significant U.S. Navy ship and shore-based services work. Comparable in scale and business model to McKean Defense, competing for similar lifecycle and program management contracts.

4SAIC
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Large federal services integrator with substantial Navy engineering, logistics, and lifecycle management work. Overlaps McKean Defense across surface-ship modernization and ship-system program management.

5Noblis (Noblis MSD)
TypeDirect peer
Description

Nonprofit federal services firm providing engineering and program management support to U.S. Navy customers, including defense engineering services for Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division. Direct competitor in the same Navy lifecycle and engineering services niche, in the same Philadelphia geography.

6Booz Allen Hamilton
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Major federal services consulting and engineering firm with deep Navy and defense digital transformation practice. Competes with McKean Defense in Navy engineering, program management, and enterprise transformation engagements.

7Huntington Ingalls Industries
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Largest U.S. military shipbuilder and a major provider of Navy lifecycle, sustainment, and engineering services through its Technical Solutions division. Overlaps McKean Defense in naval lifecycle management but at vastly greater scale.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat4 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Subsidiaries2 records

Each record includes

Name, Acquired on, Relationship type, Type, Business focus

No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

McKean Defense

Naval Engineering Servicesmckean-defense.com

McKean Defense is an employee-owned Philadelphia-based government services firm that provides Naval life cycle management, engineering, enterprise transformation, and program management support primarily to the U.S. Navy.

What McKean Defense does

McKean Defense is an employee-owned, private U.S. government services company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2006, the firm provides Naval life cycle management, engineering, enterprise transformation, and program management services to the U.S. Navy and adjacent Department of Defense customers. Its service portfolio centers on supporting Navy platforms and programs across their full life cycle — from concept and acquisition through sustainment and modernization — with capabilities spanning systems engineering, program management, and enterprise-level digital transformation support.

The company operates with 501-1,000 employees, positioning it as a mid-size federal contractor rather than a large prime or a small boutique specialist. The employee-ownership structure is a defining governance characteristic, distinguishing McKean Defense from both publicly traded defense primes and conventional private-equity-backed government services roll-ups, and aligning long-term incentives between cleared technical staff and customer delivery. The Philadelphia headquarters situates the firm in close proximity to key U.S. Navy engineering and acquisition commands, including elements of the Naval Surface Warfare Center ecosystem, which underpins incumbent positioning on ship and submarine life-cycle work.

The business model is consistent with mid-tier federal services contracting: revenue is generated through long-duration task orders, IDIQ contract vehicles, and program-support engagements with Navy program offices, with delivery executed by cleared engineering and program management personnel. No productized commercial software, no AI/ML platform offering, and no disclosed customer logos outside the federal defense vertical are referenced in the available data, indicating a services-only revenue model concentrated on a single agency end-market.

McKean Defense firmographics

Firmographics
Name
McKean Defense
Legal name
Noblis
Website
https://mckean-defense.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
1996
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
501–1,000 employees
Short description
McKean Defense is an employee-owned Philadelphia-based government services firm that provides Naval life cycle management, engineering, enterprise transformation, and program management support primarily to the U.S. Navy.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

McKean Defense industry classification

Industry
Product category
Naval Engineering Services
NAICS
Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366)
SIC
Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
akta.pro primary industry
Naval Shipbuilding Program Management & Defense Contracting Support (IMAJABAO)
akta.pro secondary industries
Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare (IMABAKAE), Naval Combat Systems Integration & Mission Systems (IMABAKAB)

Keywords

  • Naval lifecycle management
  • Naval engineering services
  • Defense program management
  • Enterprise transformation consulting
  • Naval systems engineering

Where McKean Defense is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Philadelphia
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Markets served

McKean Defense business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Operations

McKean Defense product offering

Product offering

Core offering

McKean Defense provides Naval Life Cycle Management, Engineering, Enterprise Transformation, and Program Management services to naval defense customers. The company supports naval vessels, systems, and programs across their full operational lifespan, from engineering and planning through sustainment and modernization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Naval Life Cycle Management

Companies that use McKean Defense

Customer profile

Ideal customer profiles1 record

McKean Defense technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

McKean Defense partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights1 record

McKean Defense competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

  • Leidos: Large federal services and engineering prime with significant Navy surface and undersea engineering, lifecycle management, and digital transformation work. Competes for the same Navy engineering and program management task orders.
  • BAE Systems (U.S. Navy & Integrated Defense Solutions): Global defense prime with substantial U.S. Navy ship repair, modernization, and lifecycle services through its Norfolk Ship Repair and San Diego facilities. Competes for surface fleet sustainment and engineering work that overlaps McKean Defense's offering.
  • SAIC: Large federal services integrator with substantial Navy engineering, logistics, and lifecycle management work. Overlaps McKean Defense across surface-ship modernization and ship-system program management.
  • Booz Allen Hamilton: Major federal services consulting and engineering firm with deep Navy and defense digital transformation practice. Competes with McKean Defense in Navy engineering, program management, and enterprise transformation engagements.
  • Huntington Ingalls Industries: Largest U.S. military shipbuilder and a major provider of Navy lifecycle, sustainment, and engineering services through its Technical Solutions division. Overlaps McKean Defense in naval lifecycle management but at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

  • Serco: Mid-to-large federal services contractor with significant U.S. Navy ship and shore-based services work. Comparable in scale and business model to McKean Defense, competing for similar lifecycle and program management contracts.
  • Noblis (Noblis MSD): Nonprofit federal services firm providing engineering and program management support to U.S. Navy customers, including defense engineering services for Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division. Direct competitor in the same Navy lifecycle and engineering services niche, in the same Philadelphia geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

McKean Defense social profiles

Digital presence

McKean Defense financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

McKean Defense leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

McKean Defense subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries2 records

McKean Defense funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

McKean Defense M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about McKean Defense

What does McKean Defense do?

McKean Defense provides Naval Life Cycle Management, Engineering, Enterprise Transformation, and Program Management services to naval defense customers. The company supports naval vessels, systems, and programs across their full operational lifespan, from engineering and planning through sustainment and modernization.

Is McKean Defense a public or private company?

McKean Defense is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.

When was McKean Defense founded?

McKean Defense was founded in 1996. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is McKean Defense based?

McKean Defense is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.

Who are McKean Defense's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Leidos, BAE Systems (U.S. Navy & Integrated Defense Solutions), SAIC, Booz Allen Hamilton and Huntington Ingalls Industries. Direct peers are Serco and Noblis (Noblis MSD).

Does McKean Defense have an API?

No public API is recorded for McKean Defense.

What industry is McKean Defense in?

McKean Defense's product category is Naval Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJABAO, Naval Shipbuilding Program Management & Defense Contracting Support, with a secondary code of IMABAKAE, Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare. Its NAICS code is 336611 and its SIC code is 3730.

Unlock the full company data

50 free credits on sign-up, no credit card required.

Contact sales
Live signals
PR NewswireNoblis Launches Noblis MSD Subsidiary Following Acquisition of McKean DefenseNoblis, a federal government science, technology and strategy services provider, has rebranded its recently acquired McKean Defense Group and its affiliate Cabrillo Technologies as Noblis MSD, standing for mission solutions for defense, following the acquisition announced in May 2021. The new subsidiary combines specialized defense domain expertise with emerging capabilities in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber, robotic process automation, and autonomy to serve the U.S. Navy and broader Department of Defense clients. Mikros Systems, another affiliate, will remain a separate Noblis subsidiary retaining its current name to maintain alignment with existing client and contractual obligations.PR NewswireNoblis Acquires McKean Defense and Its AffiliatesNoblis has acquired McKean Defense and its affiliates, Mikros Systems and Cabrillo Technologies, for an undisclosed amount. This transaction makes McKean Defense a wholly owned subsidiary of Noblis, integrating its capabilities in U.S. Navy surface ship readiness and modernization into Noblis' Defense Mission Area.PR NewswireMcKean Awarded $20M Warfare Center Ship Sustainment and Maintenance Prime ContractMcKean Defense Group, LLC has been awarded a $20 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division with a five-year period of performance. The contract will support Division 33's Materials, Structures, Environmental and Protection functions, covering in-service engineering, inspection, testing, material assessments, environmental analyses, ship systems hardening, machinery integration, and logistics support. Work will be executed in Philadelphia with support to other Navy sites, including several OCONUS locations.PR NewswireMcKean Awarded $19.7M Warfare Center Prime ContractMcKean Defense Group, LLC was awarded a $19.7M single-award contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division to support Critical Steam Systems programs over a five-year period. The work scope includes Hull, Mechanical and Electrical engineering, steam plant readiness and safety engineering, quality assurance, life cycle engineering, and material obsolescence tasking. Work will be executed in Philadelphia with support to other NSWCPD sites including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Mayport, San Diego, Coronado, Bremerton, and Everett.PR NewswireMcKean Defense Completes Acquisition of Mikros Systems CorporationMcKean Defense Group has completed the acquisition of Mikros Systems Corporation, marking McKean's first acquisition as a company. Mikros will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary under the leadership of Chuck Bristow and is expected to enhance McKean's capabilities in combat systems monitoring and diagnostic analytics, including SYM-3 and Prognostics Framework applications used on Littoral Combat System ships. The acquisition expands McKean's geographic footprint with new facilities in Princeton, NJ; Fort Washington, PA; Largo, FL; and Port Hueneme, CA.PR NewswireMcKean Defense Expands Account Management with Ted Zobel HireMcKean Defense Group hired Theodore (Ted) Zobel as Vice President and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Account Manager to expand its business development team. Zobel retired from the U.S. Navy in 2019 after a 31-year career, most recently serving as Program Manager for the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Module program at NAVSEA PMS 420, and subsequently held director-level business development roles in private industry. The company stated his NAVSEA background will provide insight into mission needs and help grow its Navy portfolio through alternative and non-traditional contract types.PR NewswireMcKean Awarded $69.8M NAVWAR Prime ContractMcKean Defense Group has been awarded a $69.8M single award contract by the Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific to provide engineering support for Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES). The five-year contract runs until October 2025 and covers networking, communication, and computer systems across multiple domains including Ashore, Afloat, Subsurface, Airborne, Mobile, and Joint. Work will be executed in San Diego, Norfolk, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Charleston, and select outside continental U.S. locations.PR NewswireMcKean Awarded $65M in Warfare Center ContractsMcKean Defense Group was awarded two five-year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contracts totaling more than $65M by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division. One contract worth $31M covers engineering and installation support for ship propulsion and power systems, while the second contract worth $34M covers engineering and technical services for shipboard electronic chart and situational awareness display systems. The work will be executed in Philadelphia and various Navy facilities in the continental United States, with McKean planning to expand its workforce with logisticians, engineers, programmers, and engineering technicians.PR NewswireJeffery Cherry Joins McKean Defense Board of DirectorsMcKean Defense Group, LLC announced the election of Jeffery L. Cherry to its Board of Directors. Cherry brings over 34 years of experience in the federal market, having founded Conscious Venture Lab, Conscious Venture Partners, and The Porter Group, along with expertise in stakeholder engagement and conscious capitalism principles. The appointment is intended to strengthen the board's understanding of McKean's employee-owned business model and expand its diversity and inclusion focus.PR NewswireMcKean Captures $14M Navy Submarine Engineering and Logistics Support ContractMcKean Defense Group, LLC was awarded a five-year, $14 million contract by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division to provide submarine program management, engineering, technical, and logistics support for U.S. Navy submarines. The contract includes work on high-visibility Virginia Class and Columbia Class submarine programs and will be executed at multiple U.S. naval locations as well as Yokosuka, Japan. McKean Defense plans to expand its workforce with logisticians, engineers, and engineering technicians to fulfill the contract requirements.