Pennsylvania defense summit produces nearly $10 billion in contracts

A two-day defense summit held at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, produced more than 30 agreements worth nearly $10 billion in defense contracts. The contracts are expected to create more than 4,000 jobs across the state. More than 500 organizations registered to attend the event, which was hosted by Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA).

Contract details The agreements fall into three categories: defense industrial base, emerging technology, and research and development and workforce. Rhoads Industries and General Dynamics Electric Boat signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement for advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding.

Day & Zimmerman reached a $2.3 billion contract to provide operations, maintenance, and modernization for the Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada from its Philadelphia operations. Hanwha Group secured a $1.5 billion deal for new ship orders for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel through the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.

Local universities including Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Lackawanna College, Bucknell University, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology reached new agreements or extended existing ones.

Summit participants and context Traditional defense companies, smaller and midsized organizations, military representatives, and local university leaders attended the summit. Sen. Dave McCormick’s staff arranged meetings for companies that requested them.

President Donald Trump led a roundtable discussion with government and private sector officials to conclude the summit. He said the investments will create more than 4,000 jobs and that Pennsylvania workers will build ships, submarines, trucks, weapons, and industrials.