Defense Alliance Foundation

Science, Technology, Innovation

Phil Williams, Chair
Phil Williams, LLC

Create and maintain a culture of Trust and expand our collaborative Innovation ecosystem increases economic opportunities for businesses in the state.

• Continue to mentor, foster, and grow North Carolina’s Defense Innovation Ecosystem
• Continue the over 15 years of Grassroots economic development of North Carolina’s growing Defense Innovation and Technology Sectors and clusters, leveraging the 2020 Defense Alliance Of North Carolina Cluster Study 

• Develop Onramps for proof of concept and early validation testing (prototype thru Industry Compliance: Design simulation, Digital Twins, Environmental, RDT&E, Hardware in the Loop, Man in the loop, Man out of the Loop etc.) 

• Continue developing relationships with US Armed Services Committee and its members, DoD S&T-RDT&E influencers & leaders, Identify opportunities for line-item Defense Budget Funding for and with our NC Collaborators. 
• Mentor and Energize NC companies to align and refine their mission and capabilities with Fuel Use in mind and team when helpful to submit and win. 

• Continue grassroots and economic development to accelerate success and revenue growth within the NC Defense Innovation Ecosystem. 

• University Researchers and Collaborators (All NC Universities)
Current efforts/programs at these locations:
NC State University
UNC Charlotte
UNC Wilmington
East Carolina,
NC A&T University
Fayetteville State Univ
Duke University
Wake Forest University

• Science & Technology Sector Focus
NC Cluster Study Sectors (2020 March)
1. Autonomous Systems
2. Advanced Manufacturing
3. Data & Knowledge Management
4. Human Performance
5. Materials
6. Power

• Emerging Clusters 2024 forward
7. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
8. Ocean, Coast Line, Maritime (Blue Economy)
9. Cybersecurity (all Cyber domains)
10. Energy
11. Batteries