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This week, I visited businesses, organizations, and research facilities across Arkansas’s Third District that are strengthening our national security and advancing our defense capabilities alongside my friend Rich Carroll, the founder of the Creative Defense Foundation. Here’s where we went:
In West Fork, we heard from members of the Xtremis team who are working to increase our competitive advantage by developing infrastructure for the electromagnetic spectrum and protecting the critical systems our military and national security rely on from wireless communications to radar.
At Swarm Aero’s facility in Fayetteville, we discussed the growing role of unmanned aircraft systems in modern warfare, underscoring the need to stay ahead of emerging threats. I am proud that companies like Swarm Aero are developing this new technology right here in Arkansas to ensure our nation remains prepared for any future conflict.
The team at Ozark Integrated Circuits—including President and CEO Matt Francis, Ph.D., Ian Getreu, and Brittany Hillyer—showed us their computing modules that can operate in earth’s harshest environments and provide our armed forces with technology that can keep up with the demanding environments in which they operate.
It was great to be back at the Multi-User Silicon Carbide (MUSiC) Research and Fabrication Laboratory at the University of Arkansas with Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Alan Mantooth and Inaugural Director of Business Development for the U of A Power Group (UAPG) Matthew Leftwich. The cutting-edge research and development in silicon carbide technology happening here will help maintain America’s strategic advantage.
I convened military commanders, university leaders, business experts, researchers, investors, and other stakeholders in Northwest Arkansas for a discussion on how our region is helping shape the U.S. defense ecosystem and equip our joint force.
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Participants and attendees included Hugh McDonald, Arkansas Secretary of Commerce; Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard; Charles F. Robinson, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas; Dr. Margaret Sova McCabe, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Arkansas; Dr. Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas; Scott Varady, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at the University of Arkansas; Dr. Brent Williams, Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business; Dr. Kim LaScola Needy, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas; Jay Sego, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Sam M. Walton College of Business; Hugh Churchill, Interim Director of I³R at the University of Arkansas; Adrielle Churchill Wiese with Aubrey Maturin; Allen Schaidle with Station NWA; Beau Walker with Xtremis; Ben Hearnsberger with Natural Capital; Blake Eddins with the Tyson Family; Brett Amerine with Startup Junkie; Carter Malloy with Acres; Chip Brown with CDI Contractors; Darian Harris with Fuse Ventures; Dr. Carolonda Reilly with Kennametal; Duke Hartman with Integer Technologies; Jarid King with King Aerospace; Joe Maynard with Maynard Inc.; Josh Saffran with Plug and Play (NWA); Matt Francis with Ozark Integrated Circuits; Mundo Harbaugh with Mundo Tech; Ron Maloney with the Northwest Arkansas Council; and Rusty Rainbolt with Makers Equipment.
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At the University of Arkansas, we visited the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) with Interim Director Hugh Churchill. This institute provides university, government, and industry researchers access to specialized tools and facilities to develop, test, and scale new technologies.
It was valuable to hear from Northwest Arkansas Council CEO Nelson Peacock about the organization’s projections for our region’s continued growth and how that development can attract new investment and create high-paying jobs.
It’s always fun to visit Game Aerospace and get an up-close look at the company’s cutting-edge aircraft with CEO Philipp Steinbach and Zach Sullivan. Last month, the company announced the successful first flight of its newest Game Bird 2 aircraft (GB2), which is poised to make a big difference in fighting wildfires.
In case you missed it, I welcomed Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle to the district last week with Senator John Boozman. Acting Secretary Telle’s visit was part of a series of meetings, tours, and roundtables across the state to highlight Arkansas’s national security contributions and future opportunities to partner with academic institutions and the private sector to enhance solutions to the Army’s logistics, supply chain, and technological needs.
Read more HERE.
Scroll down to photo highlights to see who else I met with this week. |