The inaugural Velocity Summit, scheduled for November 17, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina, has announced its first wave of speakers, signaling a major push to solve one of the most pressing challenges in U.S. national security: moving military requirements into manufactured capability at scale more quickly. The event is co-hosted by the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and The Protocase Companies, and its speaker list already reflects a deliberate cross-section of defense, industry, and government expertise.
The 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. Their collective experience spans military logistics and sustainment, defense manufacturing, aerospace production, additive manufacturing, and local government—precisely the intersection needed 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 announcement matters because it underscores a growing recognition that the U.S. defense industrial base must become more agile. Traditional acquisition and production timelines often lag behind emerging threats, and the Summit aims to break down barriers between military planners and manufacturers. North Carolina is positioned as a key player in this 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.
By convening leaders from Hendrick Technical Solutions—which brings race-derived manufacturing speed and precision to defense programs—Archer Aviation, and Phillips Additive Solutions, the Summit highlights how commercial innovation can be leveraged for defense. Lt. Gen. Mohan’s participation adds decades of senior military leadership and deep experience in logistics and sustainment, ensuring that discussions are grounded in real-world requirements.
Organizers plan to announce additional speakers and distinguished attendees, including senior elected and government leaders from across North Carolina, in the coming weeks. The event, first announced in September, will focus on practical collaboration among industry, the military, government, academia, and workforce leaders to examine how the United States can accelerate production, reduce barriers, strengthen critical supply chains, and expand capacity for ships, aircraft, munitions, and other mission-critical systems.
For more information and to register for the Velocity Summit, visit the event page at https://www.ncmbc.us/event/velocity-summit/.
