The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and The Protocase Companies have announced they will co-present the inaugural Velocity Summit on November 17, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The event aims to convene leaders from industry, the military, government, policy, research, workforce development, and media to discuss accelerating U.S. defense manufacturing capacity, with North Carolina stakeholders positioned to play a leading role.
The summit addresses a critical national security challenge: the speed at which military requirements are translated into manufactured capability. Despite America's exceptional engineering talent, technology, capital, and advanced manufacturing expertise, production delays, supply chain constraints, and limited surge capacity increasingly jeopardize national security. The Velocity Summit will focus on practical solutions to accelerate production, reduce barriers across the defense industrial base, strengthen supply chains, and expand capacity to build and sustain ships, aircraft, munitions, and other critical systems. A central question will be how the United States can turn military requirements into manufacturing capability at scale more quickly.
North Carolina is well positioned to contribute to this effort. According to the announcement, the Department of Defense has an estimated $79.7 billion annual economic impact in the state, where the military is the second-largest economic sector. North Carolina also boasts the Southeast's largest manufacturing workforce with approximately 459,000 jobs, more than 400 aerospace manufacturers, over 100,000 aerospace, aviation, and engineering professionals, six major military installations, two deep-water ports, leading research universities, and a statewide community college system.
Dr. Doug Milburn, co-founder of Protocase, emphasized the state's assets: "We have an extraordinary collection of assets in this state. The opportunity is to connect those strengths around a common mission. That is what Velocity is intended to begin." Jimmy Hendrix, Director for Regional Programs at NCMBC, added, "It is the speed at which we can bring those strengths together to meet urgent national security needs. Velocity Summit is about creating the connections and alignment needed to help transform those strengths into faster, more responsive defense manufacturing capacity for the nation."
Unlike a traditional conference, the Velocity Summit is designed to advance practical solutions and durable partnerships among industry, government, academia, and the military. NCMBC and The Protocase Companies envision the inaugural event as the beginning of a broader effort to strengthen defense manufacturing and raise the visibility of North Carolina's industrial capabilities. A new episode of ProtoPod featuring Dr. Doug Milburn and Jimmy Hendrix discussing the summit is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIQd1dHTixo.
For more information and to register for the event, visit https://www.ncmbc.us/event/velocity-summit/. The North Carolina Military Business Center is a statewide business development and technology transition entity of the State of North Carolina, embedded in community colleges and headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College. It leverages military and other federal business opportunities to expand North Carolina's economy, grow jobs, and improve quality of life. The Protocase Companies, comprising Protocase, ProtoSpace Mfg, and 45Drives, operate at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and open-source infrastructure. Through a velocity-first approach to engineering and fabrication, the organization helps engineering and technology teams rapidly iterate hardware, validate designs, and move toward production on timelines aligned with modern technology and mission requirements.
The Velocity Summit's implications extend beyond North Carolina. By fostering collaboration and accelerating defense manufacturing, the initiative could enhance U.S. national security and resilience. The event may serve as a model for other states, driving economic growth and innovation in the defense sector. As global threats evolve, the ability to quickly produce and sustain critical systems becomes paramount, and efforts like the Velocity Summit are essential to maintaining America's strategic advantage.
