Mark Reid Thomas

Mark R. “Hawk” Thomas is Managing Counsel at Reid Law PC, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) law firm specializing in government contracts, intellectual property, and business ventures. Colonel Thomas is an attorney, engineer, aviator, author, and career military officer with more than twenty-five years combined experience in federal technology development, government contracting, and legal advocacy. Colonel Thomas represents companies seeking to establish, protect, or enhance their presence in government markets. His practice is exclusively tailored to guiding clients through the legal complexities, bureaucratic barriers, technical challenges, and business decisions inherent to transactions and disputes involving commercial enterprises and federal agencies. Colonel Thomas provides clients with specialized legal counsel arising from a unique confluence of senior acquisition credentials, broad technology expertise, seasoned business acumen, and focused legal skills, together with the intrinsic synergy and superior value arising from these qualifications in a single advisor. An electrical engineer and flight test officer by training, Colonel Thomas’ exemplary military career included assignments as technology architect of the U.S. Air Force’s conventional weapons portfolio; the Defense Department’s future joint, interagency, and multinational war fighting capability; and the federal government’s combined nuclear command and control system. He coauthored the first joint tactical missile technology roadmap in the Department of Defense, led an unprecedented government-industry initiative to provide military launch and on-orbit support for commercial satellite systems, and spearheaded the most successful military aircraft modernization program in the United Kingdom’s recent history. Colonel Thomas later commanded the U.S. Air Force’s fledgling Space Development & Test Group, leading more than 535 personnel and directing a $1.3 billion annual budget. He is a Joint Specialty Officer, Department of Defense Senior Acquisition Corps member, recipient of the Air Force Association’s Lieutenant General Richard C. Henry Leadership Award, and was twice named Company Grade Officer of the Year at the Wing level. Colonel Thomas earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he was a Ben S. Wendelken scholar and served as Business Editor of the Denver University Law Review. He holds graduate degrees in business and military operations, along with postgraduate credentials in defense systems management, national security strategy, and federal procurement policy. Colonel Thomas represents clients in matters concerning small business certifications, teaming agreements, joint ventures, mentor-protégé relationships, size determinations, supplier and subcontract arrangements, solicitation and proposal reviews, award protests and appeals, contract negotiation, cost and labor standards, ITAR compliance and export control, inventions and data rights, inspections and warranties, amendments and equitable adjustments, contract terminations, false claims and fraud charges, and suspension and debarment actions. A critically acclaimed speaker on small business federal contract law, he has authored numerous papers across a spectrum of engineering, military, and legal topics. An international open water distance swimmer and father of three teenagers, Colonel Thomas is active in faith-based charities, military ministry, and veterans’ affairs. He resides near Denver.