The inaugural Velocity Summit, set for November 17 in Wilmington, North Carolina, has announced its first wave of speakers, signaling a major push to address one of the most pressing challenges in U.S. national security: how to move military requirements into manufactured capability at scale more quickly. The summit is a joint effort by the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and The Protocase Companies, and its speaker list underscores the cross-sector collaboration needed to accelerate defense production.
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 group spans military logistics, defense manufacturing, aerospace production, additive manufacturing, local government, and the companies working to accelerate mission-critical hardware development.
“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 speaker slate also highlights North Carolina’s growing role in advanced manufacturing and aerospace. Hendrick Technical Solutions brings race-derived speed and precision to defense programs, Archer Aviation is developing next-generation electric aircraft, and Phillips Additive Solutions helps manufacturers deploy industrial additive manufacturing. Lt. Gen. Mohan adds decades of senior military leadership and deep experience in logistics, sustainment, and the defense industrial base.
Organizers plan to announce additional speakers and distinguished attendees, including senior elected and government leaders from across North Carolina. The summit was first announced in September as a forum for practical collaboration among industry, the military, government, academia, and workforce leaders. Discussions will focus on accelerating production, reducing barriers across the defense industrial base, strengthening critical supply chains, and expanding capacity to build and sustain ships, aircraft, munitions, and other mission-critical systems.
North Carolina’s strategic importance is central to the effort. 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.
The inaugural Velocity Summit will take place on November 17, 2026, in Wilmington. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.ncmbc.us/event/velocity-summit/.
