The McLean Group — M&A Advisory Profile

01Advisory Approach

Sweet Spot

Middle-market companies serving U.S. government and defense industrial base where transaction complexity, regulatory compliance, security clearances, and buyer sophistication require deep domain expertise. $5M-$250M transaction range.

Not A Fit If

Consumer, pure commercial, or non-specialized sectors. Companies without government contracting exposure. Engagements seeking valuation-only work.

Sectoral depth through eight dedicated industry groups with domain experts; regulatory and security expertise with FINRA registration and security clearances; operational understanding from military and government contractor backgrounds; deal sophistication in complex regulatory transactions; integrated valuation practice; 30+ year track record.

02Process & Fees

Institutional-quality sell-side processes emphasizing comprehensive pre-deal strategic planning, targeted buyer identification and outreach, rigorous process management with structured data rooms, financial advisory support through due diligence and closing.

Fee Structure

The McLean Group Research

Advisory Approach

The McLean Group is a specialized boutique investment bank focused on providing sophisticated M&A advisory, valuation, and financial consulting services to middle-market companies in government-focused sectors. With over 30 years of industry experience, the firm operates with a thesis that defensive, mission-critical sectors—particularly Defense, Government & Intelligence (DGI), security, critical infrastructure, and maritime—demand specialized advisory partners who understand both financial and operational complexities of government contracting, national security, and mission-driven markets.

The firm's sweet spot is middle-market companies serving the U.S. government and defense industrial base, where transaction complexity, regulatory requirements, security clearances, and buyer sophistication require deep domain expertise. The McLean Group provides exclusive financial advisory services to both sellers and buyers navigating these nuanced markets. The firm emphasizes senior-level attention on every engagement, with MDs maintaining "open doors" policies and direct client access from initial outreach through post-closing support.

Sector Focus & Industry Expertise

The McLean Group maintains eight dedicated industry groups, each led by senior professionals with 20+ years of financial and operational experience in their respective sectors:

Defense, Government & Intelligence (DGI): The largest practice, advising on M&A, capital formation, and strategic advisory for companies serving Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, and federal civilian sectors. The DGI practice has led or co-led over 100 transactions. Recent activity includes the sale of Rite Solutions to Arcfield (Veritas Capital) in late 2025, the acquisition of Fuel Consulting by B/CORE in early 2026, and the acquisition of Blue Force Technologies by Anduril Industries in 2023.

Physical & Cyber Security: Advising on access control, video security technology, physical integrators, and cybersecurity solutions for government and enterprise buyers.

Critical Infrastructure: Focused on water & wastewater treatment, food security, energy infrastructure, critical communications, and emergency services.

Maritime: Specialized practice for vessel manufacturers, maritime services providers, ports, and facility operators.

Technology & Software: Advising on SaaS, AI/data analytics, cloud computing, managed services, and IT solutions for government and commercial markets.

Facility Services: Specializing in military facilities, data centers, correctional facilities, hospitals, and rehab centers.

Unmanned Systems: Advising on autonomous aircraft, delivery systems, agricultural drones, and infrastructure inspection technologies.

Public Safety: Focused on disaster response, business continuity, emergency medical services, and search & rescue technology.

Deal Track Record

The McLean Group has closed a substantial portfolio of M&A transactions, particularly in the defense and government contracting sectors. Recent completed transactions (2023-2026) demonstrate consistent activity and deep buyer relationships:

Rite Solutions → Arcfield (Veritas Capital) - Late 2025 - exclusive sell-side advisor. Rite Solutions is a software development and systems engineering firm serving U.S. defense and intelligence customers. Arcfield, owned by Veritas Capital's Vantage Fund, expanded its national security capabilities.
Fuel Consulting → B/CORE (NewSpring Holdings) - 2026 - exclusive sell-side advisor. Fuel Consulting brings 20 years of embedded Intelligence Community expertise. B/CORE is a national security technology company.
Ampsight → Vibrint - May 2025 - exclusive sell-side advisor. Ampsight provides multi-cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and advanced analytics for the U.S. Intelligence Community. Vibrint is a leading national security technology firm.
O'Connor Consulting Services → Aprio - June 2025 - exclusive sell-side advisor. O'Connor provides consulting and accounting services to nonprofits. Aprio is the 24th largest business advisory firm in the U.S.
Dignari → Ernst & Young (EY) - October 2024 - advisory services. Dignari is a woman-owned technology consulting firm specializing in digital identity and access management solutions.
Microtel → Tyto Athene (Arlington Capital Partners) - 2025 - advisory services. Facility services transaction with Arlington Capital portfolio company.
Seaford Consulting → Crimson Phoenix - 2025 - advisory services. Government contracting services firm acquisition.
Blue Force Technologies → Anduril Industries - September 2023 - advisory services. Blue Force Technologies develops autonomous aircraft and drone technology. Anduril is a defense technology startup.

The firm's deal flow demonstrates consistent access to sophisticated financial and strategic buyers (Veritas Capital, Arlington Capital Partners, Anduril, EY, CGI, etc.), particularly in private equity and strategic buyer categories focused on government and defense markets.

Process & Fee Structure

The McLean Group operates institutional-quality sell-side M&A processes for middle-market transactions. The firm's approach emphasizes comprehensive pre-deal strategic planning, targeted buyer identification and outreach leveraging relationships with PE and strategic buyers, rigorous process management with data room preparation, and financial advisory support through due diligence, negotiations, and closing.

Buyer Network & Strategic Relationships

Based on deal history, The McLean Group maintains strong relationships with major private equity firms including Veritas Capital (recurring buyer), Arlington Capital Partners (multiple transactions), NewSpring Holdings, and others. Strategic buyers include Anduril Industries, Ernst & Young, CGI, ASRC Federal, Ultra Electronics, Vibrint, and B/CORE. The transaction history demonstrates strong positioning in PE transactions, strategic acquisitions, and government/mission-related buyers with particular concentration on national security and defense sectors.

Competitive Positioning

The McLean Group differentiates through sectoral depth with eight dedicated industry groups led by domain experts rather than generalists; regulatory and security expertise with team members holding FINRA registrations and security clearances; operational understanding from former government contractors, military officers, and operators; deal sophistication in complex structures and regulatory compliance; integrated valuation practice for FDD and QofE; and long operating history providing deep relationships with buyers and institutional credibility in the GovCon sector.

Team

The McLean Group has approximately 50-60 professionals across investment banking, valuation, and financial consulting. Key leadership includes Mitch Martin (co-head DGI, 20+ years, West Point/MIT/Harvard, Army Captain, Ranger-qualified, Top Secret clearance, 100+ transactions), Andy Smith (co-head DGI, Super CPA, 20+ years, CPA/ABV/FINRA-registered), Joshua Butler (DGI MD, 10+ years, Cornell MBA, CPA), Paul Klick (TMT sector MD, 25 years, 80+ transactions), Mark Bertler (Water & Environmental MD, 30+ years, Fortune 500 background), Harry Ward (Maritime/Industrial MD, 30+ years, Naval Academy graduate), Ryan Berry (Valuation Advisory MD, 20+ years, TS/SCI clearance), Scott Sievers (Valuation Services MD, 1000+ valuations), and Matthew Volkmann (Financial Consulting director, 15+ years PE/strategic experience).

Geographic Coverage

Headquartered in McLean, Virginia (Washington, D.C. metropolitan area). The firm serves national and international clients with primary focus on U.S. government-serving sectors. Coverage includes Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest/West, with international capability through relationships with strategic and financial buyers.

Transaction Volume

Based on firm disclosures: 100+ M&A engagements closed since 2010, several billion dollars in aggregate transaction value, and hundreds of annual valuation engagements.