The inaugural Velocity Summit, scheduled for November 17 in Wilmington, North Carolina, will convene military readiness officials, advanced manufacturing executives, and state policymakers to confront a critical national challenge: the time it takes to turn defense requirements into delivered capabilities. Co-presented by North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and The Protocase Companies, the event aims to identify and remove barriers that slow the production and sustainment of ships, aircraft, ground systems, and critical components.
The full speaker program, announced by NEWMEDIAWIRE, features video remarks from Governor Josh Stein, an in-person address by North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley, and a keynote by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Christopher O. Mohan, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Materiel Command. The lineup also includes representatives from Fleet Readiness Center East, U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armament Command, U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center, and Norfolk Naval Shipyard, as well as executives from Archer Aviation, Hendrick Technical Solutions, 45Drives, and Phillips Corporation–Markforged.
The summit’s importance lies in its focus on actionable solutions. “America has the engineering talent and manufacturing expertise to meet extraordinary defense needs. The problem is how long it takes to turn a requirement into a delivered capability,” said Dr. Doug Milburn, Chairman of The Protocase Companies. “North Carolina has the industrial depth and talent to help change that in a big way. Velocity Summit puts military leaders, key suppliers and policymakers at the same table to identify the barriers and start removing them.” The program is structured to move from operational requirements and readiness to the manufacturers responsible for delivery, culminating in a working roundtable on barriers North Carolina can address. This progression ensures that discussions translate into concrete interventions.
For North Carolina, the summit represents an opportunity to assert leadership in industrial readiness. By aligning state resources, military needs, and private-sector innovation, the event could catalyze a sustained coalition to accelerate defense production. The involvement of high-level officials, including Governor Stein and Secretary Lilley, underscores the state’s commitment to supporting national security while fostering economic development through advanced manufacturing. The agenda and registration details are available through the Velocity Summit page.
The Velocity Summit’s outcomes may extend beyond North Carolina, offering a model for other states seeking to streamline defense supply chains. As geopolitical tensions heighten and military readiness demands grow, reducing production timelines becomes a national imperative. The summit’s emphasis on collaboration between military stakeholders and manufacturers positions it as a pivotal step toward closing the gap between requirement and delivery.
