Bluestone invests in Qualis Corporation to boost missile defense and space tech

Bluestone invests in Qualis Corporation to boost missile defense and space tech
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 26, 2024

Bluestone Investment Partners has finalized a strategic investment in Qualis Corporation, a Huntsville, Alabama-based firm specializing in missile defense and space systems technology. Qualis is known for its role in advancing next-generation missile defense and satellite communications systems, providing key services in modeling, simulation, and testing.

The company excels in simulating RF waveforms, which is crucial for developing resilient communication and navigation systems in environments where GPS is unreliable or contested. At its headquarters, Qualis operates a state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with a hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) high-performance computing setup for advanced modeling and simulation.

Among its clientele are significant U.S. defense and space organizations, including the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, the U.S. Air Force Test Center, the U.S. Space Force, the Space Development Agency, the Missile Defense Agency, and NASA. The current management team at Qualis will continue to lead the company, focusing on growth through both organic means and acquisitions.

Elizabeth Morard, co-founder of Qualis, commented, "This was the perfect time to partner with Bluestone to enable our continued investment in the development of capabilities in support of our customers' missions. I am very proud of what Qualis has achieved to date and am excited about this next phase for the company in partnership with Bluestone."

John Allen, Managing Partner at Bluestone Investment Partners, added, "We at Bluestone have great admiration for Qualis' history of performance and innovation. We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with the excellent Qualis team to support their continued technology development initiatives."

Bluestone's investment in Qualis was executed through its newly launched Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) fund. In June, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Bluestone Investment Partners was the first to receive a license under the SBIC Critical Technologies (SBICCT) Initiative. This initiative, a collaboration between the SBA and the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), aims to enhance private capital investment in the 14 Critical Technology Areas outlined in the DoD's National Defense Science and Technology Strategy. Qualis' R and D efforts are particularly aligned with these critical areas, especially in advancing satellite communications path diversity.

Rod Duke, President and CEO of Qualis, stated, "We think the Bluestone team is the perfect partner given their industry expertise and record of success. In particular, the newly-awarded SBICCT license will advance the development of next-generation capabilities for our national defense and help us to continue delivering for the customer."

Established in 1993, Qualis employs 310 professionals, primarily scientists and engineers, who serve U.S. government clients at major test sites across the U.S. and the Asia-Pacific region. In collaboration with Bluestone, Qualis aims to continue its dedicated support to DoD and NASA customers while exploring new market opportunities in missile defense and satellite communications.