Akima lands $55M defense contract, earns military-friendly recognition

Akima, an Alaska Native Corporation-owned government contractor, has secured a $55 million contract to modernize IT infrastructure for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command while also earning recognition for its veteran employment initiatives.

The five-year contract, awarded to subsidiary Akima Systems Engineering (ASE), will enhance USINDOPACOM's common computing environment through improvements to systems engineering, network management, cyber defense, and other critical communications infrastructure, according to a company statement.

"Akima Systems Engineering is committed to enhancing and modernizing the defense communications infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific theater, recognizing our crucial duty to protect national security using emerging IT and communications technology," Duncan Greene, president of Akima's Mission Systems, Engineering & Technology Group, said in a statement.

The contract work will support USINDOPACOM's operations across a jurisdiction stretching from the U.S. west coast to India and from Antarctica to the North Pole. 

 Separately, Akima received the 2025 Military Friendly designation for its veteran hiring initiatives. The company, owned by NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation representing more than 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, reports that veterans comprise 26 percent of its workforce, with 42 percent of its active contracts supporting U.S. military operations.

"The 'Military Friendly' label is more than just a designation — it's a promise," Akima President and CEO Bill Monet said in a statement. "This promise is backed by Akima's actionable veteran hiring initiatives, such as tailored onboarding programs to address the challenges veterans face during their career transitions after military service."

The company participates in the Defense Department's SkillBridge Program, which provides service members with training for civilian workforce transitions. Veterans at Akima work across various sectors including security, intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, cloud architecture, aircraft mechanics, and engineering.

The Military Friendly designation was awarded following an evaluation of public data and survey responses from more than 1,200 companies. VIQTORY, which manages the program, assessed organizations based on recruitment, retention, turnover, and advancement opportunities for veteran employees.

Akima employs 10,000 people globally, providing services in information technology, facilities and ground logistics, aerospace, protective services, systems engineering, mission support, and construction. The company ranked 29th on Washington Technology's 2024 Top 100 list of government contractors.

ASE operates as an SBA-certified 8(a) company focused on maritime IT and systems engineering integration for the Department of Defense. The subsidiary specializes in supporting both legacy environments and developing new systems to improve operational performance.