Technology’s Role for the Navajo Nation

For the last two decades, the Navajo Nation’s Diné Development Corporation (DDC) has developed companies that provide information technology, engineering, environmental and professional solutions. Revenues and dividends generated in part go to the Navajo Nation’s social impact initiatives that help support the tribe based in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. The DDC, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, has 10 such companies that deliver services to federal, state and tribal governments.
This unique model generates revenue off of the reservation and channels it back into the Navajo economy, creating a cycle of reinvestment and growth for the Native Americans, said Vikkilynn Watchman, a tribal spokeswoman and team lead for Social Impact and Tribal Relations.
“Diné Development Corporation, founded in 2004 under a charter from the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development, stands as a testament to the resilience and vision of the Navajo people,” explained Watchman. “By diversifying the nation’s economic portfolio and competing in the global economy, DDC serves not only as a driver of economic growth but also as a beacon of hope, empowering the Navajo community to embrace opportunities that honor their heritage while building a prosperous future.”
The DDC’s contributions to the Navajo Nation’s general fund resulted in $4.8 million in dividends as of 2024. The dividends support the tribe’s economic growth and long-term sustainability, she said.
In addition, the DDC’s $15.5 million in contributions (as of third-quarter 2024) have supported Navajo small businesses, sponsorships, agency events and programs—which benefit U.S. military veterans and the broader community, Watchman noted. Tribal leaders work to make sure the Nation allocates these resources to efforts that address its community’s needs and foster development, she stated.
To present modern-day information technology, environmental and professional solutions to its clients, the DDC has to innovate, said Harold Brown, the company’s growth and strategy business development director and a former U.S. Air Force pilot, during an interview at the company’s new offices in San Antonio.
“Something that has changed significantly, especially over the last three years, is innovation,” Brown stated. “When you think about technology and the pace of change in the acquisition of technological advancements, especially over the last three to five years, you have to be with it, and you have to be able to anticipate what’s next.”
As such, the tribal-owned company developed an in-house innovation capability team that consists of solutions architects across various areas, Brown stated.
“Whether it is cloud, artificial intelligence, zero trust, data science, we have invested internal resources in acquiring that kind of expertise so that we are better prepared to meet the client’s needs as they’ve identified them,” he clarified.
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