Manufacturers’ Association Establishes Defense Manufacturing Committee to Expand Regional Defense Industry Opportunities

York, PA – The Manufacturers’ Association of Central Pennsylvania and it’s Board of Directors announced the establishment of a Defense Manufacturing Committee on the stage at its annual MX2026 Manufacturers’ Expo where over 1,000 attendees and 115 exhibitors gathered at the York Fairgrounds. The purpose of the newly established Board Committee is to strengthen the region’s participation in the nation’s Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and identify new opportunities for area manufacturers to support military programs, systems and defense-related technologies.

The committee, whose members were appointed by Association Board President Brett Butler, COO – BWXT Precision Custom Components LLC, will help identify opportunities, connect businesses, continue to build the workforce and position regional manufacturers for expanded participation in the defense supply chain.  The appointed committee members include Patty Marrero – Phoenix Contact, John Porter – FHMS Law, Mark Wheeler – Flinchbaugh Engineering, Greg Dubin – Daisy Data Displays, Josh Hedden – BAE Systems, Travis Gentzler – Weldon Solutions, and Scott Strickler – New Concept Technology.

“The defense industrial base represents a significant opportunity for manufacturers throughout the region,” said Board President Brett Butler. “We have a strong manufacturing foundation, a diverse industrial supply chain and companies with capabilities that can support the nation’s defense needs. This committee will help us better understand where those opportunities exist and connect our regional manufacturers to them.”

The committee will initially focus on four key areas:

• Regional Defense Supply Chain Mapping
• Identify Key Military Programs and Systems
• Coordinate Existing Technology Research and Deployment
• Communicate Defense Business Development Opportunities

The committee’s work will build upon the Association’s existing defense manufacturing initiatives, including the Navy’s Talent Pipeline Program and the $6.1 million Talent and Innovation Defense Ecosystem (TIDE) workforce grant, while expanding its focus on connecting manufacturers to defense-related opportunities.  The region also boasts five military installations across the region who partner with the county economic development corporations to sustain and grow their presence.  

The Committee is a historical call back to the Association’s support of the region’s manufacturing community and its role in national defense. In 1941, as the United States prepared for its eventual entry into World War II, the Association’s then Defense Committee developed the York Plan, a coordinated regional manufacturing mobilization effort that brought area businesses together to support the nation’s wartime production needs. The York Plan demonstrated the ability of manufacturers to collaborate, leverage shared capabilities and respond to critical national priorities and became a national model to help the nation become the arsenal of democracy.

“More than 85 years later, the manufacturing landscape and defense technologies have changed dramatically, but the importance of collaboration and regional manufacturing capabilities has not,” added Executive Director Tom Palisin. “The new Defense Manufacturing Committee builds on our legacy by bringing manufacturers together to identify where our region can contribute to today’s defense priorities and the future of the defense industrial base.” Through this effort, the Manufacturers’ Association intends to lead the region and position it as a connected, capable and responsive manufacturing resource for the nation’s national defense.

About the Manufacturers’ Association

The Manufacturers’ Association is a member-driven organization serving manufacturers across Central Pennsylvania. With a longstanding commitment to workforce development, the Association operates a comprehensive training center offering technical, safety, and professional development programs designed to strengthen the regional manufacturing community and support the growth of the industrial workforce.