Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China recently led a roundtable discussion with leaders from prominent U.S. defense firms to address the need for expanding production capacity, scaling innovation, and securing supply chains within the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. The event took place at Auburn University’s Applied Research Center in Huntsville, Alabama, a key location for missile defense and advanced weapons systems.
The roundtable included participation from Representatives Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Dale Strong, and Robert Aderholt of Alabama. Industry representatives came from companies such as RTX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). They discussed challenges in increasing production, integrating new technologies, and reducing dependencies on foreign materials.
"It was a privilege to visit Huntsville and engage with local leaders and industry experts on the pressing challenges facing our nation's defense capabilities," said Chairman Moolenaar. He emphasized Huntsville's importance in missile defense and hypersonic technologies as crucial to national security. "The conversations we had about expanding production capacity, accelerating innovation, and strengthening supply chains are essential in countering the threats posed by China’s military ambitions."
Discussions during the roundtable focused on three main areas:
1. Bolstering Production Capacity: Industry leaders highlighted risks associated with ‘just-in-time’ production models and called for incentives to support stockpiling critical components.
2. Scaling Innovation: Participants pointed out regulatory burdens that hinder rapid technology adoption.
3. Securing Supply Chains: There was an emphasis on reducing reliance on Chinese sources for rare-earth elements and other critical inputs.
Chairman Moolenaar stated that the House Select Committee on China will continue working with defense industry stakeholders to remove barriers to innovation and strengthen supply chains.
Participants from various organizations included Jonathan Pettus from Auburn University’s Applied Research Center; Parker Chapman from AIA; Alan Zimmerer from BAE Systems; Pierce Lehr from Boeing; Kevin Wilson from General Dynamics; Brian O’Connor from Lockheed Martin; Raymond Sharp from Northrop Grumman; and Kurt Wuest from RTX.
The committee remains dedicated to enhancing U.S. national security by ensuring that the industrial base is prepared to meet current threats and future challenges.
