Catalyst Experience

At Catalyst, we believe every contract we work on, either in a prime or sub-contracting role, prepares us for bigger and better challenges. The diversity of our experience enables us to bring a wealth of ideas to our customers. 

Featured Case Studies

Campaign Plan Development

Communications & Marketing Case Study

THE CHALLENGE

The Office of Public Affairs at the Marine Corps Systems Command sought to develop a communications campaign plan for its wide range of audiences to keep them informed of the plans, policies, and programs with significant impact upon the creation of a more capable warfighting team. These ranged from the internal audience of 5,000+ employees working globally, to the external audiences of active duty Marines and their families and the decision makers who influence the funding of programs throughout the Marine Corps.  

STRATEGY

Catalyst brought together a team of seasoned communications experts who understood the nuances of the targeted audiences as well as the technical challenges of using various media to communicate inside and outside government IT networks. Our team worked with the client to develop an iterative process for identifying key messages and the best distribution channels to reach the target audience. We also ensured the content was vetted thoroughly as part of the quality control process. Distribution channels included traditional media such as television and print news as well as various social media, symposiums and even tradeshows. With the procedural rigor of a company founded in engineering practices, the creative team implemented feedback loops to assess the results. Messaging, formats and distribution methods were refined to continuously improve impact and cost efficiency.  

OUTCOME

The metrics speak for themselves. Each year, the command gained tens of thousands of new followers on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook and achieved impressive engagement with existing followers. Senior Naval and Congressional stakeholders became followers as well as journalists. Dozens of news stories were carried in both online media and traditional commercial media. The command executed an intense schedule of in-person briefings, symposiums and trade shows, supported by Catalyst speech-writers and marketing experts, with positive feedback from each event.  
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Early Fielding of High Frequency Radios

Program Management Case Study

THE CHALLENGE

The Commandant of the Marine Corps directed our client to field the new High Frequency Radio (HFR) II capability ahead of schedule, due to an increased urgency for alternate communications in satellite denied environments. This accelerated the program by more than a year.  

STRATEGY

In order to meet the demands of the compressed schedule, the Catalyst team provided our client surge support for the analysis and documentation of a new program schedule. Our program logisticians, engineers, and analysts worked on a drastically condenses schedule, adhering to critical milestones while condensing the timelines. We also played the critical role in organizing, executing, and documenting a thorough field-user evaluation process. Our team was recognized as instrumental in defining much of the life cycle support strategy for the new system. 

OUTCOME

“The team pulled off a herculean effort and accelerated the acquisition strategy to meet [Combat Development and Integration’s] request to field to III [Marine Expeditionary Force] and 15th [Marine Expeditionary Unit] as quickly as possible,” said John Maurer, MCSC’s deputy portfolio manager for Command Element Systems. Both government and Catalyst contract support personnel comprising the HFR II team received awards for excellence in innovation from Command Element Systems Portfolio Manager Colonel D. Brock McDaniel in recognition of their efforts.
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USMC Biometrics and Forensics Exploitation

Engineering Management Case Study

THE CHALLENGE

The Marine Corps’ Identity Dominance System (IDS) and the Expeditionary Forensic Exploitation Capability (EFEC) programs had started as rapidly procured Urgent Universal Needs Statement capabilities and required support to transition to a deliberate acquisition Program of Record (PoR), with requisite technical documentation and engineering plans. Our client needed strong capabilities development documentation, baseline for the programs’ current capabilities, and future performance specifications. 

STRATEGY

Working in close coordination with the government team, our systems engineers facilitated a scientific approach to derive the systems’ requirements through hands-on experimentation while also conducting stakeholder interviews. Our forensic scientist and SME’s collaborated with our engineers to model the existing systems for comparative analysis. Simultaneously, Catalyst operated a secure integration lab where our team performed the scientific, technical, engineering, and verification functions to design, integrate, and test hardware and software capabilities for sensor systems supporting MASINT and HUMINT collections associated with the two systems. 

OUTCOME

Catalyst identified and resolved the critical technical, engineering, and verification challenges needed to successfully transition these critical capabilities. Upon review of our analysis, findings, and recommendations, the portfolio leaders praised the Catalyst team for the speed and relevance of the work, which provided three significant benefits to the government: it identified requirements gaps for timely revision prior to a critical milestone; it defined specific design priorities for the next versions; and it allowed the systems to become a PoR on schedule, preservinthe alignment of budget resources to the procurement schedule.
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USMC Gender-Neutral Performance Standard Research

Research & Professional Services Case Study

THE CHALLENGE

The Marine Corps was required to undertake a comprehensive review of performance standards for a wide range of combat related tasks in numerous occupational specialties in order to comply with Executive Branch policies. The Department of Defense had created requirements for the review and a firm deadline for the completion of those requirements. The task was broad in scope and required specific research skills to execute properly. The results would significantly impact the Marine Corps’ training for years to come.  

STRATEGY

Our teams conducted detailed research of existing tasks identified in Marine Corps training requirements and engaged in a broad campaign to elicit input on those tasks from key stakeholders. Dozens of documented interviews were completed with occupational specialists, training commands and relevant user communities in the operating forces.  
With a comprehensive and current list of the essential combat tasks, our teams created a baseline of task performance through observation and video documentation. They used their documentation to conduct further off-site analysis to identify component sub-tasks and physical activities that individuals performed to complete the task; i.e. squatting and lifting a wounded individual onto your shoulder was broken down into the physical motions necessary to complete the task.  
Having created a library of clear, task-oriented events and the physical activities necessary to complete them for 29 different occupational specialties, the research teams re-visited the training schools and operating forces to document a performance standard baseline with the existing communities. The tasks were completed with time and other relevant standards documented. The bottom 2.5% of performers were rated at unacceptable and the minimum performance standards were established. 
 

OUTCOME

The Marine Corps client, Training and Education Command, meticulously reviewed, validated, and accepted the operationally relevant, gender-neutral standards. As a result of our work done, the Marine Corps had, for the first time, a comprehensive set of standards that correlate directly to individual capabilities and their contribution to the accomplishment of team missions. 
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Wargaming Symposium

Training & Symposiums Case Study

THE CHALLENGE

Our Client, the Wargaming Capability Office was a newly created program office tasked to develop requirements for a large-scale war-gaming capability in the Marine Corps. Previous attempts had failed to generate an acceptable program and the new office found itself responsible for a high-visibility, personal priority of the Commandant of the Marine Corps.  

STRATEGY

The Catalyst team advised our government client that a bold approach and a fresh start were needed to gain broad stake-holder support and momentum from the beginning. The client agreed and accepted Catalyst’s offer to organize the first-ever wargaming symposium for the Marines. The goals were clear: to solicit collaboration with industry, to educate and hear from the known stakeholders and to identify new stakeholders and solicit their inputThe rapidly organized and well attended event consisted of panel discussions, working groups and presentations by subject matter experts from academia, industry and the military who discussed current trends and technologies in the areas of modelling and simulation, wargaming and intelligence support.  

OUTCOME

With enthusiastic accolades from attendees, participants and sponsors, the government team was energized by the breadth of professional networks and knowledge the symposium provided. Our client now had credible and broad input from stakeholders to inform the their critically important requirements development process and seek the necessary funding. Our team is proud to have been the catalyst for getting this vital program started on the right foot! 
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Previous Experience

  • USMC Identification & Detection Systems (I&DS) Support Services

    NIWC Systems Center, Atlantic

  • Tactical Communication Systems

    Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC)

  • PM Wargaming Capability

    Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC)

  • Strategic Engagement

    Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA)

  • Technology Scouting and Prototype Design

    Tactical Radio Antenna Modernization, SPAWAR (NIWC)

  • Human Subject Research and Analysis

    Gender Neutral Occupational Standards, TECOM

  • Acquisition Planning, Policy, and Process Development

    Assistant Commander for Programs, MARCORSYSCOM

  • Federal Acquisition Certification Training (FAC-P/PM)

    Veterans Affairs

  • Software Defined Radio Systems Engineering Support

    USMC Communication Systems IPT, SPAWAR (NIWC)

  • Senior Executive Message Development and Visualization

    Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease

  • Information Management

    Enterprise Land Mobile Radio, SPAWAR (NIWC)

  • VSAT Systems Engineering Support

    Sensitive Compartmented Information Communication Program

  • Program Analysis and SME Support

    Emergency Management Command and Control, USMC Installations Command

  • Multimedia Content, Graphic Design and Journalism

    Office of Public Affairs and Communication, MARCORSYSCOM

  • Call Center Management

    USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment

  • Strategic Planning, Facilitation and Decision Support

    Operations & Programs Director, MARCORSYSCOM

  • Data Management and Lifecycle Support

    MRAP Joint PMO, SPAWAR (NIWC)

  • Data Collection and Analysis Support

    Electronic Warfare Systems, Manpower & Training Team

  • Performance Analysis

    MOS Specifi c Performance Standards, TECOM

  • Stakeholder Engagement

    Expeditionary C4 Users’ Conference (XC4)

  • Workshops, Symposiums and Conferences

    DoD, Industry, Veterans Affairs

  • Knowledge Management Systems (SharePoint)

    Operations & Programs Director, MARCORSYSCOM

  • Strategic Communications

    Expeditionary Energy Office

  • Program Planning and Analysis

    Emergency Response Systems, MARCORSYSCOM

“A Mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”

 Oliver Wendell Holmes

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