Association Announces Recipients Of Highest Awards.

• Author: Easley, Mikayla

The National Defense Industrial Association has awarded its two highest honors: the James For-restal Industry Leadership Award and the Kathleen P. Sridhar Small Business Executive of the Year Award.

Frederick Smith has received the James Forrestal Industry Leadership Award for his work in strengthening the defense industrial base. The award is given to an industry executive to recognize their work to support a strong defense industry.

Smith is the founder and chairman of FedEx Corporation, the world's largest transportation company. He created the company in 1971 and has since grown it into a $40 billion corporation with more than 550,000 employees worldwide that handle more than 16 million shipments daily. Smith is being recognized for leading FedEx to the forefront of industry in technological innovations, according to an NDIA press release. He is aware of the most pressing national security and economic challenges the United States faces and has supported military operations worldwide, the release said.

"Smith exemplifies American global leadership on the world stage. His contributions to defense have set forth a standard that we are proud to aspire to and emulate, alongside his strong commitment and belief in the mission," Michael Bayer, NDIA's board chair said in a statement.

The association awarded Dolly Oberoi the Kathleen Sridhar Small Business Executive of the Year Award, recognizing her commitment to excellence and advancements of small business in defense...