On August 9, more than 50 representatives from the Massachusetts defense sector, including private employers, the Department of Defense, state government, and colleges and universities were brought together by Mass DTI Executive Director, Alan Macdonald and host Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) for Defense Workforce Project 2.0 (DWP2.0).
The defense workforce project is a continuation of a program jointly launched by former Secretary of Economic Development Ranch Kimball and MassDTI in 2006. DWP2.0's mission is to foster a discussion between the defense sector and the universities that generate the skilled labor to maintain our regional competitive advantage. DWP2.0 grants employers a better understanding of the coursework offered at Massachusetts' institutions and the universities in return gain insight into the needs of the industry. Ultimately, the schools can begin to create specific coursework and modify existing curricula to better prepare their students for careers in defense technology.
Following a presentation from Commonwealth Corporation President Nancy Snyder, participants from 18 companies and 9 universities engaged in an active round of "Corporate Speed Dating." Through a series of short, targeted meetings employers sought educational organizations with appropriate faculty, facilities and existing or developing curricula to support the development of workers skilled in needed disciplines.
MassDTI looks forward to developing future DWP-related events that will support continued collaboration and alignment between regional defense employers and educational institutions.
MassDTI Outlines Strategic Goals to Strengthen MA Defense Sector
In the September 7 issue of the business journal Mass High Tech, MassDTI Executive Director Alan Macdonald outlined important strategic goals to enhance the regional defense sector. Under a core theme stressing the need to establish a common working agenda among industry, government and academia, specific initiatives proposed include:
To read the oped, please click here.
Natick Science & Technology Board Established To Strengthen Competitiveness and Collaboration of Regional Defense Sector
As highlighted in the previous update, MassDTI has joined with state, university, and military leaders to help Natick Soldier Systems Center create a new Science & Technology Board. The S&T board will be a public-private collaborative group to identify top priority challenges for the Army and to create solutions that will strengthen the installation and regional industry through projects that link the area's defense tech employers, researchers and university based programs.
The Board will be chaired by:
Dr. Jack Obusek, interim Director of the Natick Army Labs, and Brigadier General Mark Brown, Commander, Army Soldier Systems Center, Natick.
The additional founding members of the Board represent critical components of the regional defense community outside the fenceline:
Steve Jamison, MassDTI Chairman and BAE Systems VP
Dan O'Connell, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development
Jack Wilson, University of Massachusetts President
Jim Shields, Draper Laboratory President
Bob Culver, MassDevelopment President
Mitch Adams, Mass Technology Collaborative President
The initial meeting of the Board is scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, 2007.
MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology to Host Visit for MassDTI Members
MassDTI staff, along with MassDTI member and Fosta-Tek Optics President, John Morrison, visited the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) in Cambridge, MA earlier this summer. The ISN is an interdepartmental research center founded in 2002 by a $50 million, five-year contract with the U.S. Army Research Office. Now in its second five-year contract, the mission of the ISN is to develop and exploit nanotechnology to dramatically improve the survivability of Soldiers. MassDTI participated in an overview briefing by ISN leadership, a tour of the facilities and engaged in a discussion of the opportunities for establishing new corporate partnerships. MassDTI is working with ISN to schedule a similar visit later this fall for all interested members of MassDTI.
Macdonald Named to Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Program
US Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF) General Michael Moseley recently named MassDTI Executive Director Alan Macdonald to the CSAF National Civic Leader Group. The Chief of Staff invites 30 citizens from across the country to serve a two-year term in this program -- the core objective of which is to strengthen the partnership among Air Force communities, their leaders, and Air Force senior leadership by disseminating information about Air Force objectives, roles, requirements and major programs as well as discussing public perception of Air Forces policies and activities.
MassDTI News Coverage
MassDTI and individual MassDTI members were featured in and participated in several media stories in recent months. These stories can be viewed through the following links.
Defense Contractor Must Remain Dynamic (Boston Globe, July 26, 2007)
Lockheed, Casinos Focus on 360-degree Camera Tech (Mass High Tech, July 20, 2007)
Patrick Learns the Drill At Natick Labs (MetroWest Daily News, June 16, 2007)
Military Contracts Have Biz Seeing Green (MetroWest Daily News, June 3, 2007)
Hanscom Community Leaders Gain New Insights with Travel to Tinker (The Integrator, May 10, 2007)
Defense Spending in State Surges (Boston Business Journal, April 27, 2007)
For further information, please contact Alan Macdonald, Executive Director at 781.890.0088 or al@massdti.com.
