Professional Resources
Gary McDonald
Experience
Gary McDonald is the Managing Director of Great Falls Management Advisors and has more than 30 years of experience working in government contracting in the aerospace and defense (A&D), manufacturing and professional services industries. Gary provided advisory services to clients at two of the “Big Four” accounting firms, PwC and Deloitte, for more than 20 years, followed by co-leading the Government Contracts Advisory Practice at a sub-Big Four, regional accounting and advisory firm. In addition to providing government contract advisory services, Gary’s experience includes managing government contracting and compliance operations for a large professional services firm. Additionally, he has more than 12 years of experience in the A&D industry as a flight hardware development engineer and a contractor Program Manager on NASA scientific missions, responsible for managing the service delivery on large scientific and flight hardware development services contracts.
Gary is the former Federal Program Management Office Director for Deloitte, the largest Big Four accounting firm U.S. Government contractor, where he was responsible for managing:
- Proposal Development
- Contract Pricing
- Contract Negotiation and Management
- Subcontract Administration and Purchasing
- Contract Cost Accounting and Billing, and
- Contract Compliance and Risk Management
Gary has worked extensively in providing practical guidance and assistance to manage and improve his clients’ government contracting compliance and operations. He helps clients comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), business system requirements and other government contract regulations and requirements. Gary successfully helps clients mitigate compliance risks, develop competitive rate structures, recover costs and develop or enhance compliance capabilities. Gary assists companies with establishing internal processes and procedures to demonstrate compliance, including commercial items and service pricing.
Gary is also a recognized DFARS Material Management and Accounting System (MMAS) specialist supporting MMAS business system audit readiness and audit preparation, audit assistance and system remediation, where necessary.
Gary has conducted over 100 M&A due diligence target evaluations for government contractor acquisition risks and provided sell-side preparations and support assistance.
Gary is a frequent speaker at industry conferences on government contract compliance matters.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, National Defense Industries Association – Contract Finance Committee
- Member, American Bar Association – Public Contract Law Section
Education
- Lehigh University, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
- The George Washington University, Master of Business Administration - Finance