More than 400 defense industry and military leaders met in Newport this week for SENEDIA’s 12th Defense Innovation Days, where the recurring theme was a workforce shortage the sector can’t hire its way past.
Michael Cadenazzi, assistant secretary of war for industrial base policy and a Rhode Island native who played on an undefeated Rogers High School football team, said he learned to win in Newport. “We need a robust workforce,” he said. “You can’t just buy your way out of this workforce problem. You have to build it.”
Capt. Matthew Lewis, acting deputy director of in-service submarines and industrial base, pointed to SENEDIA’s New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership, which he said has trained 10,000 workers for the defense industrial base since 2021.
Much of the two days went to practical guidance on selling to the government. Hiro Rodriguez, executive director of the Advocacy Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce, called his office the best-kept secret in government and said his team is working to shorten export compliance review periods. Amir Koopaei of the Canadian Embassy urged companies not to wait for a request for proposals before making contact.
Speakers from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport used the event to invite outreach, naming Victor Ricci, principal director for undersea warfare innovation and strategic alliances, as the command’s new front door. “I’m not here with a sales pitch; I’m here with a partnership plan,” said NUWC Newport Technical Director Marie Bussiere.
On artificial intelligence, several speakers cautioned against technology that doesn’t reach the field usefully. “The warfighter does not want another screen to look at,” said retired Capt. Colin Corridan. “You’ve got to be able to push it into the systems that already exist.”
Sen. Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Rhode Island companies and workers are essential to building submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles. Gov. Dan McKee and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse also spoke.
“New England is at the center of defense innovation, but as our impressive Defense Innovation Days speakers reinforced, we must do more and move faster to grow the workforce pipeline,” said SENEDIA Executive Director Stephen Guertin.
