Defense contracts take 36 months when marketing doesn't understand ITAR. We fix procurement cycles and compliance headaches for aerospace companies that need to win without waiting.
The Problem
Defense contracts stall because marketing lacks security expertise
Your team can't speak to procurement officers or navigate clearance requirements. Contracts that should close in 18 months drag to 36+ months because marketing doesn't understand defense buyer psychology or compliance frameworks. Government procurement cycles (18-36 months) require sustained relationship marketing that differs from commercial go-to-market
Dual-use technology restrictions kill commercial opportunities
ITAR and export controls create marketing blind spots that limit revenue growth. You have amazing technology but can't market it properly because your team doesn't know which messages are compliant and which create legal risk. ITAR and security classification restrictions limit what can be marketed publicly
Long procurement cycles make traditional attribution impossible
Defense contracts span multiple years with dozens of touchpoints. Your marketing team can't prove ROI or optimize spend because traditional B2B attribution breaks down in government sales cycles that extend past budget planning horizons. Small addressable market means every qualified lead has outsized value and cannot be wasted
How We Help
We embed fractional CXOs who understand aerospace procurement, security clearance requirements, and dual-use technology compliance. Your fractional leader builds marketing strategies that work within defense industry constraints while maximizing commercial opportunities.
Our aerospace CXOs have navigated ITAR restrictions, built security-cleared marketing teams, and optimized procurement cycles for companies selling to DoD, NASA, and commercial aerospace buyers. We know how to message dual-use technology, structure compliance reviews, and build attribution models that work across multi-year government contracts.
You get immediate access to aerospace marketing expertise without hiring full-time leadership that costs $400K+ and takes 6+ months to find. We start with procurement cycle analysis, compliance framework development, and attribution model design that proves marketing impact across 24-36 month sales cycles.
Within 90 days, you have compliant marketing processes, optimized procurement strategies, and attribution systems that connect marketing spend to contract wins across multi-year cycles.
Our approach starts with a thorough assessment of your current growth infrastructure. We review what is working, what is not, and where the highest-impact opportunities are. This diagnostic phase ensures we are solving the right problems before committing resources to execution.
What makes our approach different: embedded leadership model — not external consulting, operator mentality — we own the number, not just the strategy, 90-day sprint approach with clear phase gates. We operate as an extension of your team, not as outside advisors delivering slide decks. The fractional model means you get senior expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire, and the 90-day sprint structure ensures you see measurable progress at every phase.
We build measurement into every engagement from day one. Before we change anything, we establish baseline metrics so progress is tracked against real numbers. Monthly reporting shows what is working, what needs adjustment, and where to invest next. No vanity metrics — only indicators that connect to revenue.
What we deliver
- Security clearance marketing team development
- ITAR-compliant messaging frameworks
- Multi-year procurement attribution modeling
- Defense buyer journey optimization
- Dual-use technology commercial strategy
We fix procurement cycles and compliance headaches for aerospace companies that need to win without waiting.
Our Methodology
Our methodology starts with a 90-day sprint designed to create immediate impact while building long-term systems. In the first 30 days, we embed with your leadership team to audit existing marketing infrastructure, review performance data, identify quick wins, and understand the competitive landscape specific to your vertical. We interview key stakeholders, review your analytics stack, and map the customer journey from first touch to closed deal.
Days 30-60 focus on strategy development and early execution. We build a prioritized growth roadmap, restructure team roles where needed, and start implementing the highest-impact changes. This phase includes establishing measurement frameworks so we can track progress against real metrics, not vanity numbers.
Days 60-90 shift to full execution mode. Systems are running, the team is aligned, and we're optimizing based on real data. By the end of the sprint, you have a functioning growth engine with clear ownership and accountability — something that works whether we stay on or not.
How We Work
In the first 30 days, we conduct a full marketing and growth audit. This includes reviewing your analytics stack, interviewing key stakeholders, mapping the customer journey, and identifying the three to five highest-impact opportunities. We establish baseline metrics so we can measure progress against real targets.
During days 30-60, we move into strategy development and early execution. We build a prioritized growth roadmap, begin restructuring team roles where needed, and start implementing quick wins identified in the audit phase. Weekly check-ins keep the team aligned and the leadership team informed.
Days 60-90 are full execution mode. Systems are running, the team knows their roles, and we're optimizing based on real performance data. We provide monthly strategy presentations to the leadership team covering what's working, what's not, and what we're changing.
Most engagements run 3-6 months initially. We work 15-25 hours per week embedded with your team — attending leadership meetings, managing agency relationships, and making resource allocation decisions. The goal is to build systems that outlast the engagement.
- Procurement cycle acceleration
- Security compliance framework
- Commercial opportunity expansion
- Attribution across multi-year cycles
If your aerospace & defense company needs fractional cxo leadership, we should talk.
Expand your marketing team output with our experts
Let us take a custom approach to your growth goals by assembling and leading the best-in-class marketing team to support your next stage.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fractional CMO cost for aerospace companies?
Fractional aerospace CMOs typically cost $15K-$30K monthly depending on security clearance requirements and engagement scope. Compare that to $400K+ for full-time aerospace marketing executives plus 6-12 months recruitment time.
Do you handle security clearance marketing for defense contractors?
Yes, our aerospace CXOs understand security clearance requirements and can build compliant marketing processes for classified and unclassified defense contracts.
Can you help with ITAR compliance for aerospace marketing?
Absolutely. We structure marketing processes, messaging frameworks, and content review systems that ensure ITAR compliance while maximizing commercial market opportunities for dual-use technology.
How long before we see results from a fractional CXO?
Initial diagnostic insights and quick wins typically surface within the first 30 days. Structural improvements — team alignment, measurement frameworks, channel optimization — show measurable impact by day 60-90. Compounding growth effects from systematic changes become clear at the 3-6 month mark. The 90-day sprint is designed to deliver value at every phase, not just at the end.
How does the fractional model work day-to-day?
We work 15-25 hours per week embedded with your team. That includes attending leadership meetings, managing agency relationships, making resource allocation decisions, and building growth systems. Weekly execution check-ins keep the team aligned. Monthly strategy presentations give leadership visibility into progress and priorities. We operate as a member of your team, not an outside consultant.
What makes a fractional CXO different from a marketing consultant?
Consultants give you frameworks and recommendations. Fractional CXOs own the number. We are embedded in your organization, accountable for growth targets, and building systems that work after the engagement ends. The difference is accountability — we don't hand you a deck and walk away. We execute alongside your team and are measured by outcomes.
