Technology is constantly advancing, shattering its former confines and reaching new heights.

As the leader for GEOINT, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is keenly aware of the evolution of technology and the need to stay abreast and even leading advances to improve capabilities to fulfill its mission of creating world-class GEOINT. This is where NGA’s Industry Engagement team comes into play.

The team provides external technology discovery services and fosters commercial partnerships to help NGA achieve its strategic objectives. Connecting to and communicating directly with the commercial industry is an essential lifeline for NGA in plotting and securing the agency’s future and assuring its success. 

“Communicating with and sharing ideas with external sources in the technology sector, academia, non-profits and trade associations gives NGA the opportunity to keep pace with emerging technologies and capabilities,” said Rick Myllenbeck, NGA’s chief of Industry Engagement & Discovery.  “The intended outcome is that solutions can be found, and new capabilities pursued.”

NGA’s Industry Engagement team consists of four core elements:

• technology discovery
• relationship building
• workforce education 
• agency synchronization

The team applies numerous methods to connect with commercial industries, including tradeshows, conferences, symposia, panel discussions, email and referrals. Once the conversation starts, NGA sends the industry engagement questionnaire to the company representative. Once returned, the questionnaire is reviewed by the NGA Industry Engagement Coalition—hand selected personnel that represent all major directorates and offices across the agency. After the coalition review, if interested, NGA will extend an invitation for the company to participate in an NGA Compass Meeting.

“During the compass meeting, we give each company 30 minutes to talk about its business and demonstrate its solution,” said Myllenbeck. “After that, the NGA participants coalesce to discuss and determine next steps. This could potentially lead to a contracting mechanism of some sort, such as cooperative research and development agreement or a grant. 

NGA led nearly 400 engagements with emerging and innovative businesses in 2024, including over 120 company meetings, 40 targeted demonstrations and 81 office calls with NGA leadership, resulting in increased exposure of small businesses to NGA. This proactive approach has also contributed to advancing NGA’s positive reputation externally with commercial industry.

“For the past seven years, NGA has pursued engagements with industry in a very different and unusual way,” said Myllenbeck. “We encourage and welcome company representatives to discuss their solutions with interested agency representatives. This has changed the agency's relationship with external solution providers and has led to the acquisition of technologies and innovative solutions previously unknown and undiscovered.” 

Along with company outreach, NGA’s Industry Engagement team routinely interacts with the NGA director, deputy director, members of the agency’s executive leadership and front office staffs to prepare and coordinate high-level executive office calls with industry executives. Additionally, the team engages with counterparts from agencies such as ODNI, DIA, NRO and NSA  to share information. 

Industry engagement is a key long-term priority for NGA. The team’s ability to discover next-generation solutions through engagements significantly contributes to NGA’s rapidly evolving mission, securing a path for future growth.

Contact NGA’s Industry Engagement team to learn more about our process.