The inaugural Velocity Summit, scheduled for November 17, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina, has announced its first wave of speakers, signaling a concerted effort to bridge the gap between military requirements and manufactured capability. The summit, organized by the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and The Protocase Companies, aims to address one of the most pressing challenges facing U.S. national security: how to move military needs into production at scale more quickly.
The first confirmed speakers include Lieutenant General (Ret.) Christopher O. Mohan, former Commanding General of 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 North Carolina Military Business Center. This diverse group spans military logistics, defense manufacturing, aerospace production, additive manufacturing, local government, and industry, reflecting the summit’s goal of fostering practical collaboration across sectors.
“This is exactly the kind of intersectional pedigree we envisioned when we began building Velocity Summit,” said Dr. Doug Milburn, Chairman of The Protocase Companies. “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 inclusion of leaders like Lt. Gen. Mohan, with his deep experience in logistics and sustainment, underscores the summit’s focus on actionable solutions.
North Carolina’s role in advanced manufacturing and aerospace is a key backdrop for the event. The state 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. The Department of Defense has an estimated $79.7 billion annual economic impact in North Carolina, where the military is the second-largest economic sector. This scale positions the state as a critical player in strengthening the defense industrial base.
The Velocity Summit was first announced in September as a forum for industry, military, government, academia, and workforce leaders to 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. Organizers plan to announce additional speakers and distinguished attendees, including senior elected and government leaders from across North Carolina, in the coming weeks.
For more information and to register for the event, visit https://www.ncmbc.us/event/velocity-summit/. The summit’s outcomes could have far-reaching implications for how the U.S. military and its industrial partners collaborate to meet evolving threats, making it a pivotal moment for defense manufacturing.
