21+ years of leadership spanning the U.S. military and Fortune 500 industry. A track record of multimillion-dollar value creation, global supply chain transformation, and operational excellence — now focused on helping Michigan manufacturers cross the threshold into aerospace & defense.
Jerold Hawkins is a strategic operating executive with 21+ years of leadership experience spanning the U.S. military and Fortune 500 industry. He has led large-scale transformation initiatives across global supply chain, sourcing, operations, and enterprise performance environments — consistently delivering multimillion-dollar value creation, operational discipline, and sustainable growth.
Throughout his career, he has built and optimized complex supplier ecosystems across North America, Asia, and South America; led high-performing cross-functional teams; and executed critical initiatives including organizational spin-offs, cost transformation, network optimization, and business performance acceleration.
His leadership style combines disciplined operating cadence, accountability, cross-cultural fluency, and a bias for measurable results. He is now focused on helping industrial, defense, automotive, and growth-oriented organizations scale operations, strengthen supply chain resilience, unlock EBITDA, and apply AI-enabled strategies to real-world execution.
Based in Michigan, Jerold is especially focused on opportunities involving advanced manufacturing, aerospace & defense, private equity-backed platforms, and enterprise transformation leadership — bringing a practitioner's lens to every engagement, not a consultant's generic playbook.
Executive education from one of the world's premier institutions — bringing Ivy League strategic rigor to defense market advisory and operational leadership.
Currently completing MIT's rigorous 3-month Executive Leadership Program in AI Strategy & Leadership — integrating AI-enabled decision-making directly into DXP™ advisory methodology and client engagements.
Military career built on accountability, operational discipline, and mission-first execution — values that define every SLFS engagement and the DXP™ advisory framework.
Built and optimized complex supplier ecosystems across three continents. Led sourcing, network optimization, cost transformation, and organizational restructuring at enterprise scale.
Deep roots in Michigan's automotive and auto-adjacent manufacturing sector — understanding the operational strengths of the industrial base and the specific gaps defense entry demands.
Michigan's industrial base — forged in automotive precision, high-volume manufacturing, and operational discipline — is uniquely positioned to compete in aerospace & defense. The supply chain DNA is there. The machine capability is there. What has been missing is the compliance infrastructure, regulatory fluency, and strategic readiness intelligence to make the pivot successfully.
That is changing. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has made defense supplier readiness a strategic priority — actively working to help Michigan manufacturers understand, prepare for, and capitalize on the growing demand in the U.S. defense industrial base. Programs like the Michigan Defense Center and targeted A&D supplier development initiatives are creating an ecosystem of support for manufacturers ready to make the move.
Summit Line Federal Solutions and the DXP™ framework exist at the intersection of that state-level momentum and individual company readiness. We translate the opportunity into actionable intelligence — telling manufacturers exactly where they stand, what gaps exist, and what the realistic path to defense contract eligibility looks like.
MEDC & Michigan Defense Center are actively investing in supplier readiness programs to help Michigan manufacturers cross the threshold into A&D contracting. DXP™ aligns directly with this state-level strategic initiative.
The window is open. Manufacturers who build readiness infrastructure now will be positioned to capture contracts as DoD continues diversifying its supplier base away from legacy single-source dependencies.
See Where You Stand — Free →Three principles that guide every DXP™ engagement — from a 5-minute free screening to a full Phase 2 Decision Brief.
Every engagement begins with honest, unbiased assessment. No inflated findings. No sales pitch. Just an accurate picture of where you stand and what it will realistically take to move forward in defense.
Defense market entry is a specific challenge requiring specific expertise. DXP™ is built on practitioner-level knowledge of DCAA, DFARS, CMMC, and program management — not generic advisory frameworks.
Summit Line Federal Solutions exists to strengthen Michigan's position in the national defense industrial base — one well-prepared supplier at a time. The MEDC is building the ecosystem. We're building the readiness.
Every DXP™ engagement is led personally by Jerold Hawkins. Start with the free Phase 1 screening, or reach out directly to discuss your situation.