2026 Cohort Protégé Application
Thank you for your interest in participating as a protégé in the AFCEA Small Business Committee’s Center of Excellence Mentor-Protégé Program (SBCoE MPP). The 2026 Cohort theme is “From Protégé to Powerhouse: Propelling GovCon Success.”
This six-month, one-on-one mentorship experience pairs small business professionals with experienced GovCon leaders who share practical insights, candid advice, and proven strategies to accelerate business growth. The SBCoE MPP is designed to help small business leaders strengthen their GovCon knowledge, build meaningful relationships, and gain actionable guidance to grow more confidently within the federal marketplace.
Key Dates
• November 6, 2025: Protégé Applications Open
• November 20, 2025: Protégé Applications Close
• December 4, 2025: Mentor-Protégé Matches Confirmed
• December 11, 2025: Program Kickoff (In-person at AFCEA HQ & virtual option)
• January 22, 2026: Mentor-Protégé “Open Forum” Event
• February 26, 2026: Virtual Session
• March 19, 2026: Virtual Session
• April 23, 2026: Virtual Session
• May 28, 2026: Capstone Celebration
Note: Events are held from 5:00–7:00 PM ET. Virtual sessions will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and in-person attendance will be hosted at AFCEA International Headquarters at4114 Legato Rd., Fairfax, VA.
About the Protégé Role
Protégés are active participants who come ready to learn, engage, and apply new insights. The program is designed to help small business professionals:
• Strengthen their understanding of the GovCon environment.
• Build relationships with experienced mentors and peers.
• Develop targeted strategies to improve capture, growth, and execution performance.
The program requires a commitment to attend scheduled sessions and maintain regular communication with your assigned mentor (at least one connection each month). Participation is a benefit of AFCEA Corporate Membership.
Disclaimer: Please do not include proprietary or sensitive information in your application. All information submitted may be shared with the SBCoE leadership team for matching and coordination purposes.
Questions about the program? View our FAQs or contact Alison Gonzalez or Stephanie Miller.
If you’re not yet an AFCEA Corporate Member and wish to participate in the program, please email Bo Inscho or call (703) 631-6187 for information on Membership options.
"I’m extremely grateful I applied for the SBCOE Mentor Protégé Program. I was paired with an incredible mentor, Katie Helwig, and our relationship quickly evolved beyond mentorship into true collaboration and friendship. I learned so much from her, and we even partnered on a few initiatives that helped us both grow and reach higher in the GovCon space. The AFCEA team was also fantastic — always responsive and supportive throughout the program. I highly recommend the experience to anyone new to GovCon who’s looking to learn, connect and build meaningful relationships."