North Carolina Military Foundation
“The state is coming into its own in terms of growing its defense industry. Thanks in large part to the N.C. Military Foundation’s expertise and early focus, we are well-positioned to seize on emerging military needs.”
– Secretary Keith Crisco, N.C. Department of Commerce
Established in 2006 by then-Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue, the North Carolina Military Foundation is led by some of the nation’s most distinguished military retirees and the state’s preeminent corporate citizens. The expertise and acumen of its Board of Directors enables it to forge meaningful relationships with key decision makers for the benefit of the state.
FOCUSED
Growing North Carolina’s defense and homeland security economy is the Foundation’s sole business. We execute by leveraging the collective wisdom and influence of the Board to identify emerging military and homeland security requirements, and then partner with industry, academia and government to capitalize on them.
The results have been impressive. In 2006, military installations and defense related industry had an $18 billion impact on the state’s economy. Today, that figure is $23.4 billion and growing.
INNOVATIVE
The Foundation’s Defense Asset Inventory and Target Industry Cluster Analysis pinpoints where the state’s strengths in industry, academia and R&D coincide with the emerging needs of the military and homeland security. This strategy – actionable by industry and economic developers across the state – promotes innovation clusters for six target markets where North Carolina can best compete:
- - C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
- - fuel and power
- - human factors
- - performance materials
- - RESET/vehicles support activities
- - unmanned systems
INDEPENDENT
The Foundation is a statewide, non-partisan and nonprofit economic development organization funded entirely by its corporate board members. All board members serve voluntarily.
