Steve McMannus (Innovation Advisor at RTI International), Emil Runge (Program Director, First Flight Venture Center) and Michael Mullins (Director, Defense Industry Initiatives, NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions) will discuss the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP) and the opportunities for North Carolina manufacturers, researchers, and entrepreneurs in advanced textiles, wearables and technology to participate in the manufacturing ecosystem to strengthen the Defense Industrial Database.
 
DEFTECH will conduct the weekly Coffee Call on April 12, 2024. The topic of discussion will be “Innovations in Textiles: North Carolina Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (NC DMCSP).” Also, a capabilities overview will be provided on Industry Expansion Solutions, the extension arm of the College of Engineering at NC State University.
 
On August 13, 2021, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), following a competitive selection process, announced that the state of North Carolina was selected to receive the designation as one of five “Defense Manufacturing Communities” in the nation during FY2020.
 
On September 22, 2021, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation awarded North Carolina State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) one of the five grants under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP). The DMCSP aims to make long-term investments in critical skills, facilities, workforce development, research and development, and small business support to strengthen the national security innovation base. The grant application process was based upon the competitive ranking of proposals by a Defense Manufacturing Community Review Panel.
 
The DMCSP grant is being used to undertake a $7,466,588 project to strengthen defense advanced textiles manufacturing capabilities through an industrial production ecosystem that melds cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, biotechnology, and additive manufacturing. The North Carolina DMCSP Consortium involves over 25 entities across the state and builds on existing textile manufacturing collaborations in order to establish a best-in-class innovation ecosystem for the research, development, and production of smart textiles and wearable devices in support of warfighter health and performance.
 

Guest Speakers

 
Steve McManus, Technology Commercialization, RTI International Mr. McManus is an experienced technology commercialization professional. Before joining RTI, Mr. McManus held the General Manager position with CS Medical LLC, a medical device manufacturer, where he managed sales, marketing, product development, and operations. Prior to his tenure at CS Medical, he worked in business development roles with BP Amoco Fabrics and Fibers (later Propex) and LORD Corporation, establishing markets and applications for new material innovations. His current focus at RTI is serving National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across the US by providing technology and market intelligence consulting services to manufacturing startups and established small- and medium-size firms, and by participating in programs funded by NIST MEP, the US Department of Defense, US Department of Energy, Small Business Administration, and Federal and State agencies. Mr. McManus also manages business development for corporate clients in the manufacturing space with an increasing focus on climate tech, including working with climate tech accelerators by conducting market and technology intelligence for deep tech startup companies. Mr. McManus has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science in Management degree with a concentration in technology commercialization, both from North Carolina State University.
 
Emil Runge, Director of Programs, First Flight Venture Center Emil leads the First Flight BARDA DRIVe Accelerator focused on national health security, facilitates Propeller Ideation Trainings, manages the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) with Hangar6. He also led the effort to launch Test Flight Pitch Practices to help our companies better prepare themselves to pitch to investors. In 2022, Emil helped launch the Wheels UP Accelerator, comprehensive 12-week, cohort-based, sector-focused accelerator for science/technology startups. Working in collaboration with BARDA, the first Wheels UP cohort in summer-fall 2022 accelerated the ability of entrepreneurs to scale disruptive biotechnology and health security/pandemic preparedness solutions. BARDA provided $100,000 in prize money as well as technical expertise for this first cohort, which had its Demo Day (accelerator graduate presentations to potential investors and industry/government experts) on November 3, 2022. For over two decades, Emil has consulted, advised and assisted elected and appointed officials in capacities at the federal, state and local level.
 

See you on the Coffee Call!