Photo By Jessica Dowell | WASHINGTON (August 29, 2023) - Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering...... read more read more
The Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program showcased its groundbreaking programs and partnerships at the National Defense Industrial Association’s inaugural Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition, held August 28-30, 2023, at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. The three-day conference brought together representatives from government, industry and academia to promote entrepreneurial initiatives for advancing the transition and adoption of new, defense-relevant technologies, which will help secure supply chains that support the warfighter.
Participating in both the breakout sessions and the exhibit hall, ManTech highlighted activities across the enterprise, including completed and ongoing initiatives from the Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, Manufacturing Science and Technology Program, Joint Defense Manufacturing Panel, and more.
“The DoD ManTech programs enable manufacturing ecosystems to develop and field emerging technologies at speed and scale, addressing points of need such as contested logistics environments,” said Tracy Frost, director of the Office of the Secretary of Defense ManTech Program. “We continue to foster innovation through our proven investment and partnership model, connecting industry, academia, and government stakeholders to enable advanced manufacturing technologies and processes – and the workforce needed to support them.”
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks kicked off the conference with a keynote speech that set the tone for discussions on how to rapidly move critical technologies and capabilities into the hands of U.S. warfighters.
Hicks used the conference platform to unveil the Replicator initiative, a strategy to counter China's military expansion. She underscored that when faced with sheer mass, the United States will outmatch its adversaries through superior strategic thinking and maneuvering.
“Our warfighters are counting on you – on us – to deliver at speed and scale, to work together with greater urgency and unity of purpose to not let them down,” said Hicks. “I don’t intend to [let them down] and I know you won’t either!”
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu emphasized the importance of comprehending the evolving threat landscape and leveraging tools and advancements in the industrial base to meet warfighters’ needs rapidly and extensively.
“There’s multiple ways to close the gap,” she said. “I'm looking for lower cost, asymmetric ways to close the gap. That’s exactly what I’m focusing on.”
During the industry- and government-led sessions, Frost co-hosted a panel with OSD Basic Research Office Director Dr. Bindu Nair on “Accelerating Transition Across Manufacturing Readiness Levels: From Basic Research to ManTech.” Frost outlined the ManTech program, summarized resources and opportunities for industry and government engagement, and addressed questions from the audience.
“The joint seminar with Dr. Nair highlights how our programs collectively can deploy critical technologies and transition them from basic research to operational application,” said Frost.
In the exhibit hall, businesses and agencies displayed products and technologies that exemplify collaboration success stories. To illustrate the success of its public-private partnerships and their members’ contributions to advanced manufacturing and national defense, ManTech showed off advances from its nine DoD Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, two of whom – LIFT, the advanced materials institute, and BioMADE, the biomanufacturing institute – participated in the exhibition with their own booths.
The mission of the ManTech program is to reduce the acquisition and support costs of defense weapon systems and improve manufacturing and repair timelines throughout the lifecycles of these systems. The enterprise strives to leverage advanced manufacturing to ensure a more potent force, reinforce alliances and public-private partnership and accelerate adoption for enhanced performance and affordability. For more information about ManTech, visit dodmantech.mil or follow us on LinkedIn.
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2023 11:50 |
| Story ID: | 453768 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 114 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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