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But it raises the question was he right to hold this resource away from our team.
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The question in your original post, as shown above, is far different from that you posed later. The later question is far more reasonable and appropriate.
I do not believe that the sponsorship of DEKA represents any conflict of interest, just as I do not believe Dave Lavery's assistance to team 116 is a cause for concern. Similarly, Nypro gives no advantage to the team it sponsors.
The interest, you'll recall, is not winning. The interest is inspiration. So, if by seeing DEKA's manufacturing and research facilities, your students are inspired to go farther and do more, FIRST is doing its job.
I have no doubt that there are teams with machine shop capabilities that can easily rival those available at DEKA. Those capabilities, while rare, are not unique.
I trust most of the people involved in FIRST enough to respect the importance of keeping some things quiet. They seem to understand, above all else, that their behavior and attitude affect students' perceptions of engineering just as much as their mechanical aptitude and machining skills. Integrity is as much an asset as a CNC mill.
...as far as going to DEKA to have your parts drilled -- I don't think there's anyone, myself included, who'd begrudge you for that or deny you an opportunity to play the game. I was simply pointing out that it is against the rules.