About Us

Who We Are

We provide technical, cybersecurity, logistics, and program management support to US Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of State (DoS) agencies and select foreign governments and militaries.

Our experience spans decades of operational and strategic support to the DoD, DoS, US Navy, USMC, USAF, and US Army. Our people range from retired and separated military to seasoned defense contractors to new grads. Our success stems from our drive to always provide objective, effective, and cost-efficient advice and solutions to our customers.

Our Mission

We never forget that our mission is to support our men and women in uniform.

What Sets Us Apart

Mission First

About Our singular focus is on delivering effective, on-time, and on-budget support that ensures mission success for our men and women in uniform.

Defense Contracting Experience

AboutOver 40% of us have 20+ years of defense contracting experience. Over 85% of us have 10+ years of defense contracting experience defense contracting experience. This gives us a keen understanding and deep knowledge of defense contracting policies, processes, rules and regulations, and history.

Domain Experts

AboutEach of our core capability practices - technical, cybersecurity, foreign military sales, logistics, and program management - are led and managed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with at least 20+ years of experience, to include 10+ years of leadership experience, in their respective core competencies.

End User Insight

AboutOver 60% of us are separated or retired military, with each service branch represented. We understand what our sailors, marines, soldiers, and airmen need because we have been there. We hold regular brown bag lunches, talks, and mentoring by our separated and retired military to ensure our non-military people are given the opportunity to learn about and understand why we are so dedicated to those who serve us.

Client Relationships

AboutWe are known for our integrity and objectivity and have extensive experience acting as Trusted Agents for the US Government.

Our People

AboutDedicated, enthusiastic, smart, and happy.

Highbury Defense

Our Leadership

Andrew
Andrew Nugent

Founder

Andrew is HDG’s founder. Andrew has led HDG’s growth from a three-person start-up to 140+ employees providing technical, cybersecurity, foreign military sales, logistics, and program management support to US Department of Defense and Department of State agencies and select foreign governments and militaries.

In addition to leading HDG, Andrew also provides technical and engineering support to the Department of Navy as well as other DoD services and agencies. Andrew is currently the PEO C4I PMW 150 Maritime Tactical Command and Control (MTC2) Product Owner. His prior roles included PEO C4I PMW 150/157 Lead Technical Agent and System Architect for Global Command and Control System – Maritime(GCCS-M), Lead Technical Agent for PEO C4I PMW 740 and recognized technical expert called upon by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and Navy International Programs Office (NIPO) as technical lead for international engagements, and Lead Cybersecurity Engineer supporting PMW 130, the Navy’s Cyber Security Program Office.

A 1989 graduate of the US Naval Academy, Andrew served as a Surface Warfare Officer for eight years; his final tour was a Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) with the UK Royal Navy. Andrew holds a BS (Engineering) from the US Naval Academy, an MSc (Engineering) from the University of Southampton, UK, and a CISSP certification.

nic
Nic Merrin

Founder and President

Nic is HDG’s president and HDG’s founder. She focuses on employee happiness, client relationships, and business development.

Prior to founding HDG, Nic provided legal counsel and business development support to several Washington DC and San Diego-based defense contractors. Prior to that, Nic practiced law in Washington DC for 10 years. She specialized in intellectual property litigation and patent portfolio counselling and litigated extensively in the International Trade Commission, state, and federal courts. Her clients included Apple, Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony, and Ajinomoto.

Nic holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia, a JD from Duke Law School, and is a member of the bars of New York and California.

daniel
Daniel Gelyana

Partner

Daniel is HDG’s CTO and HDG’s founder. He leads HDG’s foreign military sales, cybersecurity, and engineering practices.

In addition, Daniel provides lead cybersecurity support to PEO PMW 130, to include acting as Lead Engineer for the Navy’s Computer Network Defense program. Daniel’s professional career started as a college intern and then a New Professional at SSC Pacific (now NIWC PAC). After transitioning out of the government, Daniel performed at increasing levels of seniority as a systems engineer in PEO C4I PMW 150 supporting Global Command and Control System – Maritime (GCCS-M), followed by supporting PEO C4I PMW 740 as a Lead Foreign Military Sales technical expert. Daniel presently supports PEO C4I PMW 130 as Lead Cybersecurity Engineer and Subject Matter Expert.

Daniel holds a BS and MSc in Engineering and an MBA from San Diego State University and a CISSP certification.

Dave
Dave Cully

Chief Operating Officer

Dave is HDG’s COO. He provides corporate operations and business development focused on the San Diego, Charleston, and Washington DC defense markets. He also leads HDG’s contract execution and capabilities enhancements. He is always available to provide career mentoring and support for our people.

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the defense contracting sector combined with a 20+-year career in Naval Aviation where he was an F-14 RIO, a Desert Storm veteran, and qualified Air Wing Strike Leader.

Dave holds a BA in Economics and an MBA in Finance from UCLA and a PMP certification from the Program Management Institute.

Vincent

Chief Happiness Officer

Partner With Us

We are always interested in working with companies that need a
proven, experienced, and reliable partner.

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