Velocity Summit Unveils First Speakers to Speed Defense Manufacturing

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and The Protocase Companies have announced the first wave of speakers for the inaugural Velocity Summit, set to take place on November 17, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina. This groundbreaking event will convene senior leaders from the military, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, government, and North Carolina’s defense industrial base to tackle one of the most urgent challenges facing U.S. national security: how to move military requirements into manufactured capability at scale more quickly. The confirmed speakers include Lieutenant General (Ret.) Christopher O. Mohan, former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command; Bill Saffo, Mayor of Wilmington; Scott Lampe, President of Hendrick Technical Solutions; Chelsea Lloyd, Director of Supplier Quality Engineering at Archer Aviation; Brad Garris, Business Manager at Phillips Additive Solutions; Dr. Douglas Milburn, Chairman of The Protocase Companies; and Martin J. “Jimmy” Hendrix III, Executive Director of the NCMBC. These leaders span military logistics, defense manufacturing, aerospace production, additive manufacturing, and local government, reflecting the summit’s focus on cross-sector collaboration to accelerate the development and production of mission-critical hardware.

Dr. Doug Milburn, Chairman of The Protocase Companies, emphasized the importance of bringing together diverse stakeholders: “This is exactly the kind of intersectional pedigree we envisioned when we began building Velocity Summit. The challenge is bigger than any single company, military organization or level of government. We need the people who understand requirements, production, supply chains, technology and policy in the same room, focused on what it will actually take to move faster.” The summit will examine how the United States can accelerate production, reduce barriers across the defense industrial base, strengthen critical supply chains, and expand capacity to build and sustain ships, aircraft, munitions, and other mission-critical systems. North Carolina’s role is significant: 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. The state also boasts approximately 459,000 manufacturing jobs, more than 400 aerospace manufacturers, over 100,000 aerospace, aviation, and engineering professionals, six major military installations, and two deep-water ports. Additional speakers and distinguished attendees, including senior elected and government leaders from across North Carolina, will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information and to register, visit the Velocity Summit registration page.