Velocity Summit 2026

The Velocity Summit is a one-day event built around a central premise: America’s defense manufacturing capacity problem is, at its heart, a velocity problem. The United States possesses extraordinary engineering talent, technology, capital and advanced manufacturing expertise. However, modern requirements are exposing the consequences of an industrial system that can take years to translate needs into manufactured capability, struggle to expand production when demands change, and it is highly dependent on complex supply chains. The Summit will convene senior leaders from across North Carolina and the national defense ecosystem, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace and maritime, logistics and supply chain, the U.S. military and federal government, technology, academia and research, workforce development, and economic development. The event will focus on what needs to change for the United States to become dramatically faster at turning a military need into manufactured capability at scale, with North Carolina leading the way. Discussions will address production issues, supply chain resilience, workforce development, advanced manufacturing technologies, and strategies to strengthen the Defense Industrial Base, highlighting North Carolina’s capabilities to accelerate defense manufacturing and support national security.