DAWSON
A Transformative Approach to DefenseContracting

DAWSON is a Native Hawaiian Organization 8(a) small business that is transforming the profile of a typical Department of Homeland Security provider. Defense contractors are known for their corporate formality and bureaucratic nature, which often yields a rigid culture where people are dispensable and financial growth is the only concern.

DAWSON instead operates on the principle that “excellence in service” is the only necessary quality of a defense contractor. They preserve the personable culture of their Native Hawaiian roots and respect the diversity of its many employees or ‘ohana, which means “family” in Hawaiian, scattered across the globe. DAWSON’s mission is “to have a positive impact on the lives of their employees, their families, and their communities by serving their strategic clients everyday.”

Because they hire top talent based on excellent results, they protect the well-being of their exceptional employees with the same rigor by which they serve their clients who safeguard our country. Their warm, communal philosophy of living aloha, “sharing breath together,” has precipitated a rapid growth across its now many business lines.

In 24 years, DAWSON has become an industry-leader in servicing the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies, working across the US and 30 countries around the world. Their projects range from design-build construction services for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Department of Homeland Security to cybersecurity and counter intelligence for the US Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, US Army Cyber Center of Excellence, and US Air Force.

DAWSON’s agility allows them to proactively respond to ever-changing homeland security requirements. They hold several indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) construction contracts with USACE to support the Rio Grande Valley security initiative along the southern US border and Land Ports of Entry homeland security along the northern US border. They are installing automated border gates, gate monitoring equipment, and other civil construction.

DAWSON also provides federal agencies with complex cybersecurity and information technology (IT) solutions, including cybersecurity training, system security engineering and architecture, and information assurance. Currently, they are providing a cybersecurity computer network defense system for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) in the Middle East to addresses critical deficiencies within the RSAF cyber security program.

DAWSON boasts a seasoned management staff in Saudi Arabia who are providing tailored sustainment and technical support services under budget, ahead of schedule, and with exemplary client accolades.

Similarly, in serving the US Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon, DAWSON is securing all the cyber and training center computer networks from foreign exploitation. They developed innovative solutions to increase security in state-of-the-art training environments and to respond to potentially lightning-quick changes.

DAWSON’s impressive cadre of homeland security capabilities aligns with their core value of having a positive impact in their local, national, and global communities. This value was inherited from the hard work and dedicated spirit of their matriarch - Beadie Kanahele Dawson. Beadie committed her life to spreading the spirit of aloha within her community while inspiring and challenging others to do the same. On September 22, 2018, DAWSON celebrated Beadie’s 89th birthday and her life of giving back by hosting their inaugural National Day of Service.

DAWSON employees, friends, family, and neighbors gathered in 18 local communities across 16 states to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, shelter veterans and teens, and clean facilities and highways to further demonstrate excellence in service and to set an example for their children to follow. “Helping others is a mindset we can all benefit from in our daily lives. My wish this year is that the DAWSON ‘ohana will continue our commitment to spread the spirit of aloha throughout the world.” – Beadie Kanahele Dawson