Built From the Ground Up: How Qais Alkurdi Turned a Mission into HQE Systems

It didn’t start in a boardroom or a business school. It started on the battlefield. Qais Salem Alkurdi, a service-disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran, didn’t set out to build a company. He set out to solve a life-threatening problem: how to make sure people get notified—fast—when their lives are at risk.

During his military service in Iraq, Qais Alkurdi experienced firsthand how early warnings and mass notification systems can mean the difference between survival and disaster. But those systems weren’t always reliable. Some failed in the chaos of conflict. Others simply weren’t built for the complexities of real-life emergencies.

When Qais returned home, he couldn’t stop thinking about those moments. And what bothered him most wasn’t what happened on the battlefield—it was what wasn’t happening here in the U.S.

“I saw schools using outdated PA systems. Cities relying on aging sirens. Federal buildings without integrated emergency networks,” Qais recalls. “It wasn’t just inefficient—it was dangerous.”

A Mission Becomes a Company

In 2014, from a small garage workspace in Temecula, California, Qais Alkurdi founded HQE Systems. He wasn’t backed by investors or inherited wealth. He was backed by a mission—and a deep understanding of what it means to be unprepared when every second counts.

HQE was founded on one principle: save lives through smarter technology.

Instead of focusing on off-the-shelf solutions, Qais Alkurdi built HQE to engineer fully integrated, mission-driven security systems—the kind that could withstand disasters, work without power or cell signals, and reach people across all communication channels in real time.

He didn’t just want to improve emergency response—he wanted to redefine what it meant to be “ready.”

From Concept to Contract-Winning Company

Like many great small businesses, HQE Systems began small and local. But its purpose and impact quickly grew. Word spread among security directors and government agencies that HQE wasn’t just another integrator. The company didn’t sell pre-packaged products—it solved real problems.

Qais and his team were soon called on to provide solutions for military bases, government facilities, school campuses, and public safety organizations. HQE helped them replace outdated systems with custom-engineered platforms that integrated voice, text, sirens, display boards, and radio into one synchronized solution.

Within five years, HQE grew into a multi-million-dollar government contractor, earning major contract awards with:

• The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
• The General Services Administration (GSA)
• SeaPort-NxG for Navy system support

But what made that growth possible wasn’t just technology—it was trust. HQE became known for delivering on time, under pressure, and beyond expectations with fully customizable solutions that competitors simply cannot build!

An Entrepreneur with a Public Safety Mission

Qais Alkurdi never forgot where the idea for HQE came from. That mission still drives him and #TeamHQE today.

And while the company now operates across the country and partners with leading federal agencies, Qais still starts his meetings with a question he asked on day one:

“If this system was protecting your family—would it be enough?”

That simple mindset has shaped HQE’s culture. It’s why every system is tested for worst-case scenarios. It’s why 65% of the company’s workforce is made up of U.S. military veterans, and why Qais insists on using real-world experience—not just theoretical models—to guide development.

It’s also why HQE regularly partners with minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned small businesses, mentoring them on federal compliance, procurement, and sustainable growth.

National Recognition from the SBA

In March 2025, Qais Alkurdi’s entrepreneurial journey—and HQE’s lasting impact—was recognized at the highest level.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named him California’s Small Business Person of the Year.

In a state with over 4.2 million small businesses, the award honors Qais Alkurdi for:

• Building a successful, scalable business rooted in public safety
• Creating high-paying jobs in the state
• Supporting other small businesses through mentorship and subcontracting
• Advancing innovation in life safety and security technology

As part of National Small Business Week 2025, Qais Alkurdi will travel to Washington, D.C., where he will be honored alongside other state winners. One will be named National Small Business Person of the Year during a ceremony led by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.

Read the official SBA announcement

Qais Alkurdi’s Vision for the Future

“This company started with a simple mission: prevent the kind of tragedy I saw in the field from happening here at home,” Qais says. “This award is a reminder that small businesses aren’t just economic engines—we’re protectors, problem-solvers, and builders of the future.”

As HQE Systems looks to expand further across the U.S. and into international markets, Qais Alkurdi is focused on scaling responsibly. He plans to increase partnerships with public institutions and continue investing in AI-driven, cost-effective emergency technologies for communities that need them most.

About HQE Systems, Inc.

HQE Systems, Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in integrated life safety, emergency response, and mass notification technologies. Headquartered in Temecula, California, HQE provides custom-engineered security solutions for government agencies, military installations, public safety organizations, and private-sector clients nationwide.

Media Contact:
HQE Systems, Inc.
1 (800) 967-3036
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www.hqesystems.com

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HQE Systems is a certified Veteran Owned Company. For more information about HQE Systems Inc. and its emergency management, electronic security, and integration solutions, please visit www.hqesystems.com.