Boeing

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Jan. 31, 2014 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] will continue its tradition of helping small businesses by partnering with El Monte, Calif.-based AMRO Fabricating Corporation through NASA's Mentor-Protégé Program.

The focus of the three-year agreement is the work the companies are doing for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), the next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle for deep space exploration. Boeing is prime contractor for the SLS core stage and avionics. It will share lean manufacturing practices with AMRO – which provides aluminum alloy panels for SLS – and help with marketing and business development, management development and supply-chain management.

"Space exploration requires a strong, experienced team, so investing in the next generation of suppliers is not only smart, it’s absolutely necessary," said Virginia Barnes, Boeing Space Launch System vice president and program manager.

The NASA Mentor-Protégé Program pairs large and small businesses to enhance capabilities and enable them to compete for larger, more complex prime contract and subcontract awards. During 2013, Boeing subcontracted approximately $5 billion to small minority- and woman-owned businesses.  

"In the 36 years of AMRO"s history, this Mentor-Protégé Program is certainly one of the most valuable partnership opportunities we've engaged in, and we're excited to be part of it," said Aquilina Hutton, AMRO’s owner.  

AMRO is a certified small, minority, woman-owned manufacturing company, specializing in the manufacturing of lightweight metallic structures for demanding environments on missiles, launch vehicles and spacecraft.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $33 billion business with 58,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

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Contacts:

Patricia Soloveichik                                                            
Boeing Space Exploration                                                                        
Office: +1 256-542-6073
Mobile: +1 256-476-6046                                              
patricia.a.soloveichik@boeing.com                            

John Hammond
AMRO
Office: +1 714-457-7975
jhammond@amrofab.com