A new statewide advocacy group will focus on the unique needs of Wisconsin’s defense industry and its supply chain, according to a recent press release. The Wisconsin Defense Industry Council (WDIC) was formed in conjunction with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce to strengthen and support Wisconsin’s defense industry through collaborative advocacy, information sharing, and networking.
George Whittier, CEO of Beloit-based Fairbanks Morse Defense, will chair WDIC, while Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision in New Berlin and a former Navy SEAL, will serve as vice chair.
According to a 2022 Department of Defense report, Wisconsin ranks 30th in total U.S. defense contract spending, accounting for just 0.6% of total defense spending, or about $5 billion of the more than $800 billion defense budget. That number likely doesn’t include small- and medium-sized manufacturers within the defense industry supply chain.
