WASHINGTON DC — Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China led a roundtable with leaders from America’s top defense firms to address the urgent need to expand production capacity, scale innovation, and secure supply chains within the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The roundtable, hosted by Auburn University’s Applied Research Center, capped a full day of site visits and briefings in Huntsville, Alabama—home to some of the nation’s most critical missile defense and advanced weapons systems. Chairman Moolenaar was joined by Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida who serves on the Select Committee, along with Rep. Dale Strong and Rep. Robert Aderholt of Alabama. Participants from industry included senior leaders from RTX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), who shared insights on the challenges they face in ramping up production, integrating emerging technologies, and mitigating foreign dependencies—particularly on China—for critical materials. Chairman Moolenaar stated, "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. Huntsville's growing role in missile defense and hypersonic technologies is crucial to securing America's future. 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. I look forward to continuing to work with these dedicated professionals to ensure that our national security remains strong, resilient, and ready to meet any challenge." Key themes of the roundtable included: - Bolstering Production Capacity: Industry leaders discussed the risks of relying on ‘just-in-time’ production models and emphasized the need for incentives to support stockpiling critical components, maintaining surge capacity, and investing in workforce development.
- Scaling Innovation: Participants highlighted regulatory burdens and contracting challenges that hinder the rapid adoption of cutting-edge technologies, particularly from non-traditional defense entrants.
- Securing Supply Chains: The conversation focused on reducing reliance on Chinese sources for rare-earth elements and other critical inputs, with a call for greater visibility into sub tier suppliers and stronger domestic alternatives.
Chairman Moolenaar emphasized that the House Select Committee on China will continue to engage with defense industry stakeholders to identify and remove barriers to innovation, increase resilience in supply chains, working to ensure that America’s military is fully equipped to deter and, if necessary, win a conflict with the People’s Republic of China. Industry participants included: - Auburn University: Jonathan Pettus, Executive Director of Auburn Applied Research Center
- AIA: Parker Chapman, Senior Director, Legislative Affairs
- BAE Systems: Alan Zimmerer, Sr. Director of Precision Strike & Sensors (Huntsville)
- Boeing: Pierce Lehr, VP of Supply Chain for Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems
- General Dynamics: Kevin Wilson, Sr. Program Manager (Huntsville)
- Lockheed Martin: Brian O’Connor, VP of Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) Supply Chains Operations
- Northrop Grumman: Raymond Sharp, VP of Missile Defense Solutions
- RTX: Kurt Wuest, Executive Director for Naval Shipboard Missiles
The House Select Committee on China remains committed to bolstering U.S. national security by ensuring our industrial base is equipped to meet today’s threats and tomorrow’s challenges. Click here to view photos from the event. ### |
