The First in Defense Coalition is moving quickly to turn North Carolina’s defense assets into greater investment and economic opportunity.

Launched in May by the NC Chamber in partnership with the North Carolina Critical Technologies Alliance, First In Defense is focused on three core priorities: elevating defense as a key economic opportunity for North Carolina, accelerating entrepreneurship and innovation in critical technologies, and positioning the state to attract and grow defense companies. The growing coalition brings together businesses, local chambers of commerce, higher education, economic development organizations, and other partners committed to expanding North Carolina’s role in the nation’s defense industrial base.

At the state level, the Coalition is developing a First in Defense legislative agenda that will outline policy opportunities to strengthen North Carolina’s defense economy and competitiveness. While the agenda will be released publicly later this year, conversations are already underway with members of the North Carolina General Assembly’s new bipartisan National Security Technology and Innovation Caucus on key priorities and opportunities.

The Coalition is also engaging with Gov. Josh Stein’s economic development blueprint and the N.C. Department of Commerce’s NC ALIGN initiative, and deepening collaboration with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). The NC Chamber and North Carolina Critical Technologies Alliance, in partnership with EDPNC, recently joined the New American Industrial Alliance, positioning North Carolina in the broader national effort to strengthen America’s industrial base.

That state-level work is being matched by increased engagement in Washington, D.C. Coalition leaders recently met with 11 members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation and defense leaders at the Pentagon as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen connections between state and federal leaders and ensure North Carolina speaks with a coordinated voice as it competes for defense jobs and investment.

A key takeaway from conversations at the Pentagon was the importance of speed. In today’s defense environment, those who move with speed win. The First in Defense Coalition is working to ensure North Carolina does exactly that.

North Carolina’s Defense Momentum Is Delivering Results

As first highlighted by the NC Critical Technologies Alliance, recent wins across North Carolina’s defense and critical technology ecosystem underscore the momentum behind this work and the opportunity ahead:

• Skyeton, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer, selected Cumberland County for its U.S. headquarters.
• Silentium Defense announced it will put its North American headquarters in Apex.
• UNC Charlotte secured an NSF Engines grant for up to $160 million to lead a regional effort focused on modernizing the nation’s energy grid and strengthening security and resilience.
• NC State received a four-year, $20 million National Science Foundation award to leverage artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous laboratories to accelerate materials science research.
• Rep. Mike Schietzelt, co-chair of North Carolina’s National Security Tech & Innovation Caucus, secured a $500,000 grant to develop a shared classified workspace at the Wireless Research Center in Wake Forest, addressing a critical infrastructure need for companies and researchers working with the military and national security community.
• First in Defense Coalition member JetZero continues to advance its major Greensboro manufacturing project. Following its June groundbreaking, the company announced a letter of interest with the Export-Import Bank of the United States for up to $3 billion in financing, along with new agreements with Gulf Air and Japan Airlines.
• The U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission recently announced its first projects, with First in Defense Coalition member RTI International playing a key role as consortium manager for the national initiative.

With growing alignment across the public and private sectors, investment flowing into North Carolina, and a clear policy agenda taking shape, the Coalition is positioning North Carolina to translate its defense strengths into long-term economic opportunity.

Companies and organizations interested in participating in the First in Defense Coalition should contact Jake Cashion, vice president of government affairs, at the NC Chamber.