The Coordinates of Strategy

Helping the DOD, industry, and investors position for success -

always market, always focused, always positional

Navigating Complexity

We've built companies, launched new markets, developed disruptive products, and solved previously unsolvable dilemmas

When Outcomes Matter

We are the science, technology, and transition experts - we shape programs and investment to deliver exceptional value

It's All About Context

Opportunities are missed when an organization loses its positional context - we identify and solve the key problems

A View Into the Positional World

Positioning for the Future

We work with DOD RDT&E commands to accelerate development of new capabilities for warfighters while ensuring a prosperous and relevant future for their workforces. This may sound pedantic, but our interests run deep and we care about preserving the national assets that help to ensure our way of life. Its not just about the technology or the quality of the outcome -- its about sustainable national competitive advantage.

Forging New Businesses

Positioning for the Future

We worked with a private equity firm to build a market capture strategy that led to the acquisition and roll-up of ten specialized manufacturing companies and an eventual IPO. The initial investment of $150M ultimately generated over a billion in market value. Perhaps more importantly, we disrupted a staid market with a new kind of company built on a technology-centric and innovative business model.

Breaking The Mold

Positioning for the Future

We were instrumental in the development of whole new families of gas turbines in both the commercial and defense sectors. In one case we helped resurrect the German aero-engine design and manufacturing industry, and on the other, supported the development of the world's largest single rotation turboprop engine for Europe's biggest military program -- the A400M.

Evaluating Progress

Positional has run program and portfolio evaluations for billions in investment and critically important programs for the DOD, DHS, NASA, HHS, CASIS, and many others -- when it comes to determining whether your investments in R&D make sense, no other firm has done more. Think about all the major developments of the last ten years -- robotics, hypersonics, autonomy, quantum, AI/ML, neural networks, decision science, LLMs, supercomputing -- we have been involved in all of them.

Thinking in New Ways

When the DOD needs to accelerate its acquisition process, there are few levers that can be turned, but Positional Advisors is working to exploit those that do exist -- including digital engineering and high performance computing. Billions are at stake as is our country's security. Positional Advisors is working with the DOD and Congress to shed new light on a critically important problem -- our goal is not just better decisions, faster cycles, and billions in savings -- it's about reinventing how the DOD develops the capabilities needed to protect our Nation.

Opening Up New Solutions

We developed the acquisition strategy for a DOD client that led to the successful procurement and 2-year pilot of virtual supercomputing services by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Additionally, we took advantage of an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) to ensure the capability would be scalable and contractually efficient. Our work set the requirements for the capability, crafted the Request for Information (RFI) the 30+ vendors responded to, and established the procurement strategy that identified DIU and the OTA authority as the best way to deliver the result. The effort has been widely praised in the media as a success and innovative approach.

Services

Positional is a professional services firm dedicated to the needs of the Defense and National Security sectors where R&D is fundamental to success.

At Positional, we've been working with clients for a quarter of a century to meet their goals and enable them to thrive under changing market and fiscal conditions. Our key differentiator is our focus. We work at the intersection of strategy, technology and innovation. Our principals have led program review boards that have evaluated upwards of $250 billion of science and technology programs. We have helped clients to marshal resources and competencies to enter new markets, solve daunting technical challenges, build new companies, capture game-changing contracts, and exploit emerging technologies to stand at the forefront of industry.

Our services may seem similar to others, but unlike many consultancies, we have the intellectual horsepower and gritty "in the trenches" experience to offer real solutions and lasting value.

We are expert in the following areas:

Strategic Positioning - when the only thing that is important is being ready for what's coming
White Space Opportunity Identification and Growth Platform Development - grasping opportunities while they are still in the peripheral vision of others
Technology Enablement - bringing new technologies and products to market
Technical, Market, Operational, and Financial Due Diligence - truly understanding what a given investment is bringing
Program and Portfolio Reviews, Red Teams and Restructuring - you can't manage what you don't understand

A Very Different Kind of Firm

Consulting has changed over the last 30 years. It used to be that consultants were generalists that brought capacity and outside experience to a particular need.

That type of consulting still exists, but today, CEOs and government leaders come to consultants because they have a unique and complex problem. Given that reality, why would we expect a firm to have the specialized people necessary to meet the need? Traditional firms will claim that they do, and in fact, they have an economic incentive to drive all revenues through their operations which means they bring the best assets they can to the problem, but what if the "best" is not good enough?

Positional is different. We know clients only come to us when they have a truly hard problem -- so why would we throw the same old resources at it? Positional has a global network of some of the most capable people on the planet. When facing a new challenge, we go to work and find exactly the right people -- we gather them together and meld a team that has no peer. That's the Positional advantage.

The Coordinates of Strategy

Navigating Complexity

When Outcomes Matter

It's All About Context

POSITIONAL: The art and science of strategic intent; putting the strategies in place to achieve your mission or dominate your market.

A View Into the Positional World

Positioning for the Future

Positioning for the Future

Positioning for the Future

Forging New Businesses

Positioning for the Future

Positioning for the Future

Breaking The Mold

Positioning for the Future

Evaluating Progress

Thinking in New Ways

Opening Up New Solutions

Services

Positional is a professional services firm dedicated to the needs of the Defense and National Security sectors where R&D is fundamental to success.

A Very Different Kind of Firm

Contact Us

Get in Touch

Help us help you

Positional Advisors, LLC

The Coordinates of Strategy

Navigating Complexity

When Outcomes Matter

It's All About Context

POSITIONAL: The art and science of strategic intent; putting the strategies in place to achieve your mission or dominate your market.

A View Into the Positional World

Positioning for the Future

Positioning for the Future

Positioning for the Future

Forging New Businesses

Positioning for the Future

Positioning for the Future

Breaking The Mold

Positioning for the Future

Evaluating Progress

Thinking in New Ways

Opening Up New Solutions

Services

Positional is a professional services firm dedicated to the needs of the Defense and National Security sectors where R&D is fundamental to success.

A Very Different Kind of Firm

Contact Us

Get in Touch

Help us help you

Positional Advisors, LLC

Follow John Walker, our Managing Partner, on LinkedIn

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