Harry Kahn Associates, Inc. was founded as Gassner Associates, Inc., an aeronautical engineering firm, in 1943 in Great Neck New York.
Alfred A. Gassner had been employed by Fokker Corp. of America as their Chief Engineer from 1928 through 1931 then left to work for Fairchild Aircraft Company. He is credited with the design of the Fokker F-11 flying boat. Upon leaving Fairchild, Mr. Gassner established Gassner Associates, Inc.
Mr. Harry J. Kahn joined the firm in the 1950s during which time the firm continued to expand its business base with DoD contracts. In 1958 Mr. Kahn assumed control of the corporation and its name was changed to Harry Kahn Associates, Inc.
In 1970 Mr. Kahn saw an opportunity to expand HKA’s existing documentation support capabilities when the DoD decided to solicit contracting support for technical documentation development under large volume documentation contracts. 1972 saw the award of HKA’s first technical documentation support contract with the U.S. Air Force. At that time the Hagerstown, Maryland office was established to support this specialized service with publishing professionals who relocated from local Fairchild Aircraft offices which were then downsizing.
From that time to the present HKA has evolved to specialize in the development of product support documentation and information management solutions supporting all branches of the DoD as well as commercial customers – in many instances for decades.
Harry Kahn Associates, Inc. is a privately held, American-owned, Small Business corporation. William F. Mumma Jr/CEO and Phillip V. Perry/COO have co-owned the firm since they purchased it in 1989. Prior to that time, both Mr. Mumma and Mr. Perry were employed by the firm.