The Protocase Companies and the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) have announced the full speaker program for the inaugural Velocity Summit, scheduled for November 17 in Wilmington. The event will feature 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 summit aims to unite military and manufacturing leaders to examine how North Carolina stakeholders can shorten the time needed to build and sustain ships, aircraft, ground systems, and critical components.
The importance of this gathering extends beyond North Carolina. The U.S. defense industrial base faces persistent bottlenecks that delay the delivery of essential capabilities to warfighters. By bringing together operational requirements and the manufacturers responsible for delivery, the summit seeks to identify barriers and initiate their removal. As Dr. Doug Milburn, Chairman of The Protocase Companies, noted, “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.” He added that North Carolina has the industrial depth and talent to help change that in a big way.
The program is structured to move from military readiness requirements to industry solutions. Morning sessions will feature perspectives from military readiness officials, including representatives from U.S. Army Materiel Command, Fleet Readiness Center East, and TACOM. The afternoon will include an address by Secretary Lilley on North Carolina’s role in America’s industrial readiness, followed by an industry panel with executives from Archer Aviation, Hendrick Technical Solutions, 45Drives, and Phillips Corporation–Markforged. The summit will conclude with a working roundtable focused on production bottlenecks and practical interventions for North Carolina, aiming to build a sustained coalition for change.
The implications for the defense sector and the broader manufacturing industry are significant. If successful, the Velocity Summit could serve as a model for other states seeking to streamline defense production and strengthen the national industrial base. For readers in the defense supply chain, the event offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with policymakers and military leaders to address systemic delays. The full agenda and registration details are available through the Velocity Summit page. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
