San Diego Composites was started in 2002 by CEO Gary Wonacott, President Robert Kolozs, and Vice President Christine Benzie. SDC was founded on developing next generation materials, structures, and manufacturing technologies to benefit aerospace systems. In early 2003, SDC won three Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) programs to develop carbon-carbon optics, micro-heat pipes for high heat flux electronics applications, and a high temperature polymer control surface for a high speed missile. Since then, SDC has won numerous Phase I SBIR programs and has transitioned most to Phase II and Phase III programs.

As the capabilities and staff have grown, SDC has built upon their success with SBIR projects to attain direct contract work from government agencies and services as well as their prime and subcontractors. SDC has the capabilities to take a blank sheet idea from design and analysis to prototype builds, qualification testing, and production.

SDC is also an employee owned company with profit sharing and stock options as incentives to develop business, grow the company, and produce quality work. A combination of senior, midlevel, and entry level engineers, interns, technicians, and administration keep costs low and the quality high. Each program, whether R&D or production focused, is met with the same mission:

Building Mission Assurance Into Composites^sm

Awards

	In May 2012, SDC received the 2011 California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE) Challenge Award. The CAPE program is California's equivalent to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and recipients are held to the same criteria.
	In April 2012, SDC received the 2012 Tibbetts Award. The Tibbetts Award is a national award presented to small businesses judged to exemplify the best in the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program.
	In April 2010, SDC received the SBIR Partner of the Year Award from Raytheon Missile Systems for the second time. SDC is the only business to win this much coveted award twice.
	In August 2005, SDC received the SBIR Partner of the Year Award from Raytheon Missile Systems. 2005 marks the inaugural year of this award.