Southern Indiana Business Report
ODON — The Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG) hosted a Connect to Mission event June 6 at WestGate Academy. The session featured Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane), Crane Division’s Global Deterrence and Defense Department.
“Our Innovation Ecosystem and community partners make the critical NSWC Crane mission possible,” said Dr. Angie Lewis (SES), NSWC Crane’s technical director. “These events allow us the opportunity to discuss future workload requirements and to build relationships that cultivate collaborative partnerships and remove traditional barriers between the government and industry. Today we highlight our significant strategic missions role, truly the underpinning of our national defense.”
The half-day, collaborative forum brought together over 150 current and prospective defense contractors representing more than 100 businesses (small, large, and non-traditional) from 14 states throughout the industry for a deep dive into the Global Department and its needs/challenges as they support the Navy’s Strategic Systems Program Office as well as other Department of Defense offices. These areas of focus include support to hypersonics programs and trusted and assured microelectronics.
The program included two interactive panel discussions, an in-depth discussion on trusted microelectronics and hypersonics, multiple networking opportunities and remarks from NSWC leadership. Division managers, chief strategists and engineers, contracting officers and more covered topics from how to earn a contract, to how the divisions are assisting the warfighter today, and how attendees could best position themselves to join their mission.
Additionally, Anne Fields Lucas, regional director for NavalX Midwest Tech Bridge, provided insight into how Tech Bridge aims to educate the ecosystem on resources available in the Midwest, Crane technology areas, partnership opportunities, and how to work with the DoD.
Connect to Mission will be an ongoing series hosted by CRDG to continuously highlight a NSWC Crane department and provide insight and understanding into the needs of their mission areas, challenges and opportunities for collaboration.
“It’s our hope that these Connect to Mission events will allow the southern Indiana region to aggressively expand the defense innovation ecosystem, increase our competitive advantage and accelerate delivery of solutions to the DoD warfighters,” said Kent Parisien, CRDG chairman. “The initial response has been overwhelmingly positive and proves a need for this kind of interaction between the installation and those outside the gates.”
The next Connect to Mission will be held Aug. 1 and feature NSWC Crane’s Expeditionary Warfare Department. More information and registration for this event will be available soon. To be added to future event invitations, learn more about CRDG or join as a member for exclusive benefits, visit craneregionaldefensegroup.org.