How it all began
Preston Smith (Smitty) completed a successful tour in the US Air Force at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. While there, he supported Atlas F missile silos during the Cuban Missile crisis and later Minuteman missiles at Whiteman AFB. Afterwards, Smitty went to work in the private sector. He began his RF career at Microwave Associates, which later became M/A-COM. During this time Smitty witnessed multiple issues with air coils and their associated suppliers.
Quality, cost and late deliveries convinced Smitty that there had to be a better way to manufacture and deliver miniature air coils. He began building coils at home first using the family’s kitchen table and later moving to the basement workbench to coil winding stations. It wasn’t long before Smitty’s wife and 3 children became expert coil winders.
Smitty incorporated Microwave Components (MCI) in Massachusetts in 1978. His focus has always remained on building an affordable solution to support Hi-Reliability applications, specifically tailored for the Military and Defense markets. Smitty turned over the responsibility for day to day operations and appointed his daughter, Robin Nazarian, Vice President in 2008. Robin became CEO in 2020.
MCI continues to be a family business. Smitty’s son, Jeff is Operations Manager.
MCI Growth Over the Years
1978
Incorporated (copper and bare gold coils only)
1986
Moves out of house into a business space
1991
Adds gold coils with stripped leads to product line
1994
Ships 5 millionth coil
2008
Robin promoted to Vice President
2018
MCI celebrates 40 year anniversary
2020
Robin promoted to CEO
Photos from Our Early Days
Old MCI circa 1981.
Old MCI circa 1981.
Smitty at scope.
MCI's Commitment to Our Customers
MCI prides itself on its absolute confidentiality in all that we do. All our work is custom designed to our clients’ specifications and applications and is kept confidential from drawing board to completion and beyond.
MCI recognizes the significant negative impact product obsolescence has on the Defense, Hi Rel and Space markets we support. MCI will NOT obsolete any part number for convenience or low/inactive status. As long as MCI can obtain the raw materials required to manufacture the part, MCI will continue to support our customers and supply every part in our extensive product portfolio.
Let us assist you with what you need.
Call 978-453-6016 or send us a message.