Cherokee Federal Secures Key Role in $151B US Missile Defense Shield

TULSA, OK – January 15, 2026 – In a move that reinforces the strategic intersection of national security and tribal economic enterprise, Cherokee Federal announced that twelve of its companies have secured coveted positions on the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) $151 billion SHIELD contract. This landmark award places the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses at the heart of a next-generation effort to protect the U.S. homeland from a complex array of aerial and missile threats.

The Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract designed to rapidly field advanced defense capabilities. For Cherokee Federal, this win is not only a monumental business achievement but also a testament to its growing influence and sophisticated capabilities in the high-stakes federal defense market.

Fortifying the 'Golden Dome'

The SHIELD program represents a paradigm shift in the Pentagon's approach to missile defense. Conceived as the foundation for the MDA's ambitious "Golden Dome" homeland defense architecture, the initiative aims to create a multi-layered, multi-domain shield capable of defeating everything from traditional ballistic missiles to the latest hypersonic and advanced cruise missile threats. The program's core objective is to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative technologies, cutting through acquisition red tape to deliver solutions to the warfighter with unprecedented speed and agility.

The technical scope is immense, encompassing 19 distinct engineering and technology activities. This includes everything from initial research and development, prototyping, and systems engineering to cybersecurity, data analytics, and production. The MDA is explicitly seeking to harness the power of artificial intelligence, digital engineering, and open-systems architectures to create a defense network that is adaptive, intelligent, and resilient against threats from land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace.

"This selection reflects the depth and breadth of Cherokee Federal's capabilities across high-consequence defense missions," said Clint Bickett, Chief Operations Officer at Cherokee Federal, in a statement. "Our companies are structured to move quickly, integrate seamlessly and deliver mission-ready solutions aligned with evolving MDA and DoD priorities."

A Strategic Win in a Crowded Field

Landing a spot on the SHIELD IDIQ is a significant feat. The MDA has awarded positions to a vast pool of over 2,400 companies, ranging from defense giants like L3Harris and General Dynamics to cutting-edge innovators such as Blue Origin and Firefly Aerospace. This strategy is intended to foster intense competition and draw upon the widest possible spectrum of industry expertise. For 12 separate Cherokee Federal companies to be selected in this highly competitive environment underscores the organization's comprehensive and diversified portfolio.

The contract vehicle has a potential ordering period extending through December 2035, providing a long-term pathway for growth. While the $151 billion ceiling is shared among all awardees, with funds being allocated through competitively awarded task orders, the inclusion of so many of its entities positions Cherokee Federal to compete for a substantial share of the work. This achievement builds on a consistent track record of success, including the company's seventh consecutive inclusion on the prestigious Washington Technology Top 100 list of federal contractors in 2025.

Integrating Cyber, Intel, and Engineering

Cherokee Federal's contribution to SHIELD will be to integrate its diverse specialties into cohesive solutions for layered defense. The 12 awarded companies—including entities like Cherokee Nation Armored Solutions, Criterion Systems, Cherokee Nation Aerospace and Defense, and Cherokee Insights—will combine their expertise across critical domains.

In cybersecurity, Cherokee Federal brings enterprise-level solutions for Zero Trust Architecture, a modern security model vital for protecting the vast networks and data streams of the SHIELD program. The 2023 acquisition of Criterion Systems significantly bolstered these capabilities. In intelligence, the company offers advanced, all-source analysis and operational assessments to provide real-time threat awareness, strengthened by its 2021 acquisition of Preting Consulting. This is complemented by robust logistics and sustainment services, ensuring that deployed systems and personnel are fully supported, a capability highlighted by recent large-scale contracts with the U.S. Marine Corps.

These individual strengths in cyber, intelligence, engineering, and mission support will be woven together to address the complex requirements of the MDA, providing end-to-end capabilities for one of the nation's most critical defense programs.

A Victory for Tribal Prosperity

Beyond its implications for national security, the SHIELD award is a powerful example of the success of Native American-owned enterprises in the federal marketplace. As the contracting arm of Cherokee Nation Businesses, Cherokee Federal operates with a dual mission: solving America's greatest challenges while serving as the primary economic engine for the Cherokee Nation, the largest tribe in the United States.

A significant portion of the profits generated from contracts like SHIELD are funneled back into the Cherokee Nation's tribal government. This revenue is crucial for funding essential community services, including healthcare, education, housing, and infrastructure projects, in a region where a traditional tax base may be limited. This model is a direct result of congressional initiatives like the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program for tribally owned entities, which provides a streamlined procurement path for federal agencies.

Unlike other 8(a) contracts, awards to tribally owned firms have no dollar limit on sole-source contracts, enabling agencies to quickly secure high-value, complex services while helping to fulfill the federal government's trust responsibility to tribal nations. The success of this model is reflected in the record $23.3 billion in federal contracts won by tribal entities in 2023. For the Cherokee Nation, this contract win is not just a corporate balance sheet success; it represents a direct investment in the health, education, and prosperity of its citizens for its nearly 460,000 citizens.