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Defense Robotics and Innovation Coalition

Connecting Members to U.S. Government Business Opportunities

The Defense Robotics and Innovation Coalition connects Pittsburgh area robotics, autonomy, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other related companies to business opportunities with the U.S. Department of Defense.

As the United States and our allies seek to develop a modern deterrence capability to address narrowing technological advantages over perceived ‘near peer’ competitors, we believe that the Department of Defense will be increasingly looking for solutions being engineered right here in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Recently, we have worked alongside multiple such organizations, including: the Army Futures Command, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force, all of which have already established, or are establishing permanent operations in Pittsburgh. We were also excited to host engagements with the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN),  NavalX, DARPA and U.S. Army’s Test and Evaluation Command.

We kicked off of the Coalitions work travelling withCEOs and executives from local robotics-related companies to meet with more than a dozen pentagon officials. During in our time in the nations capital, we met with key members of the House and Senate Armed Services committee, as well as members of the Robotics Caucus and Pennsylvanias Congressional delegation.

Coalition Members:

Recent Events and Visits Include:

  • Former DOD Secretary Mark Esper (Currently with VC firm Red Cell Ventures which invests in national security related start-ups)
  • General David Thompson, U.S. Space Force, Vice Chief of Operations 
  • U.S. Army Testing and Evaluation Command: Multiple generals and 20 other senior leaders
  • DARPA
  • Director Van Buskirk, NAVAL X
  • U.S Army Testing and Evaluation Command (multiple Generals and 20 leaders)
  • U.S. Cyber Command (SES level)
  • U.S. Army Futures Command (multiple generals and 50 senior leaders)
  • U.S. Army PEO for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. (General Barker and 25 other senior leaders)
  • Elliot Leigh, Director of AFWERX
  • Defense Robotics Hill Day with 20 local robotics and intelligence related companies, including DOD visits with
    • Special Operations Command
    • National Security Innovation Network
    • U.S. Air Force
    • PA members of the U.S. House and Senate
  • Supplier forum with Newport News Shipbuilding: Columbia Class Submarines
  • General John Rafferty, U.S. Army Public Affairs
  • Admiral Pappano, U.S. Navy PEO for Strategic Submarines
  • U.S. Army Applications Laboratory – VERTEX. (10-company delegation to Austin, TX)
  • Colonel Martin Salinas Chief of the AFWERX Spark Division and Austin HUB leader
  • Graham Chynoweth, Naval X / Office of Strategic Capital
  • Vic Ricci, Undersea Naval Warfare Center
  • Command Master Chief Jeffrey Hiscocks, Team Submarines
  • 250 Person AFWERX Delegation
  • Gary Shields, Director of the Disruptive Technologies Laboratory at NAVSEA Carderock
  • Vyshi Suntharalingam, Chief Technology and Engineering Officer at Office of Strategic Capital
  • Leslie Babich, Director at SOFWERX (Special Operations Command)
  • Dr. Casey Perley, Army Applications Laboratory (Army Futures Command)
  • Captain Joel Uzarski, Director of Naval X
  • Brigadier General Shane Upton, Director of Contested Logistics Cross Functional Team
  • Maynard Holliday, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies

Get Involved

To learn more about the Defense Robotics and Innovation Coalition, contact Brian Kennedy at bkennedy@pghtech.org.