Make NC First in Defense
- Opportunity for NC
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
North Carolina should be a national leader in defense-related economic growth. Yet the state ranks only 27th nationally in defense contract spending, despite assets such as Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
By any measure, we look like a defense powerhouse. So why does our state rank only 27th in the nation for Department of Defense contract spending?
That question was at the heart of a recent discussion featuring Jarrett Lane of the North Carolina Critical Technologies Alliance, Jake Cashion of the N.C. Chamber, and State Senator Jay Chaudhuri — and the answer points directly to a challenge our General Assembly should take seriously.
The Gap Between Our Military Footprint and Our Economic Return
North Carolina has the bases. We have the veterans. We have the research universities and the growing technology sector. What we've lacked is a coordinated, statewide strategy to translate those assets into defense contracts, manufacturing jobs, and federal investment.
High-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and critical supply-chain production are going to states that have simply been more intentional about competing for them.
The Role for the General Assembly
Senator Chaudhuri made a point worth amplifying: the presence of military bases alone is not an economic development strategy. A statewide approach requires intentional policy — building the defense workforce pipeline, bringing more federal research dollars through our universities, supporting emerging technology companies that can serve defense customers, and helping veterans transition into civilian careers in the defense sector.
The Bottom Line
North Carolina is leaving money — and jobs — on the table. We have every ingredient needed to become a top-10 defense economy: world-class military installations, strong research institutions, a large and skilled veteran population, and a technology sector that's growing fast. What's been missing is the coordinated effort to put those pieces together.
North Carolina shouldn't settle for 27th. We should be competing to be first.
We have the military footprint to be a top-10 defense state but we must become more intentional about competing for defense industry investment and federal contract dollars.
Watch the discussion here:
