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Defense Technology Initiative (DTI)

Private-sector defense firms and military installations generated a combined $40 billion economic impact in Massachusetts and supported over 175,000 jobs in 2011.  Defense contract awards to Commonwealth firms and institutions represented 72 percent of all federal contract awards to Massachusetts.  Recognizing the importance of national security, economic impact, and the need for a focused Massachusetts defense sector advocate, Massachusetts High Technology Council (MHTC) subsidiary Defense Technology Initiative (DTI) brings together private and public defense sector senior leaders to develop and implement a result-oriented agenda.  DTI implements a collaborative and sustainable strategy that strengthens the Commonwealth’s private sector and military defense technology cluster and positions it to serve a greater share of increasingly technology-oriented requirements.  DTI is the only organization exclusively focused on the regional defense mission.

We believe ensuring full-time strategic vigilance on behalf of Massachusetts national defense/security technology and research economies, and related military missions, is vital in the budget reduction and “virtual BRAC” conditions expected to continue over the next decade.

DTI officers include:
• Marty Meehan, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Mark Aslett, President and CEO, Mercury Systems
• Ellen Lord, President and CEO, Textron Systems

Contributions are welcome in shaping and participating in the DTI agenda including:
• Communicating, educating, and developing specific initiatives among MA leaders
• Identifying and advocating for key policies and programs impacting defense employers
• Coordinating leadership to protect, grow, and connect with DoD technology missions

Select accomplishments include:
• Appointment by Lt. Gov. Murray to co-direct state mission support strategy for Hanscom AFB and US Army Natick Soldier
  Systems Center (NSSC)
• DTI Massachusetts and New England Defense Reports detailing defense industry contributions to the MA economy and
  national security, and demonstrating sector interconnectedness across the New England region
• Established a public-private partnership, at the request of Sen. Kennedy and Gov. Romney, and succeeded in keeping
  Hanscom AFB and US Army NSSC open during the federal Base Rea-lignment and Closure (BRAC) process
• Established Hanscom and Natick Technology Boards to connect  to regional private/public sector assets and contributed to
  local multi-million dollar technology concept development projects  

DTI – EVP Charlie Benway, Col. Weilacher, MG Olson, Chamber Pres. M. Rogers, Lt. General Moore,
CMSgt Steifel, Capt. Porter (photo by Joe Brown photography)

On November 14th, accompanied by members of the Military Asset Task Force, Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray met at the Massachusetts State House with Lieutenant General C.D. Moore of the United States Air Force. The meeting was initiated by DTI to discuss the importance of Hanscom Air Force Base and the state's effort to promote its location, mission, and economic impact, and to identify and develop collaborative initiativesleveraging the Massachusetts public and private resources aimed at enhancing the mission performed at Hanscom and lowering the cost of the AF doing business in Massachusetts.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor expressed the Commonwealth's commitment to Hanscom and highlighted the ongoing work of the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force. Senior leaders from Hanscom Air Force Base, members of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor's cabinet and state agencies, the Massachusetts National Guard, MassDevelopment, and the Defense Technology Initiative all participated in the meeting.

Hanscom Air Force Base is the only active duty Air Force base in New England. Military and civilian employees develop radar, cyber, and information technology-based systems that support U.S. troops. Just recently, the Massachusetts Air and National Guard headquarters relocated their operations to the base, where there are more than 3,600 direct and 14,500 indirect jobs. Hanscom Air Force Base's economic impact in 2011 was $8.44 billion to the region's economy.

Following the meeting with Governor Patrick, Lieutenant General C.D. Moore was the Keynote speaker at the North Suburban Chamber of Commerce Annual meeting. The dinner was hosted by Chamber Chairman and DTI – EVP Charlie Benway and Chamber President Maureen A. Rogers on behalf of the members of the Chamber of Commerce. In his Keynote address Lieutenant General C.D. Moore outlined the importance of and his desire to work closely with local leadership and industry in an on- going basis.

Lexington Patch: Patrick, Murray Host Air Force Leadership, Talk Hanscom AFB