Defense contractors in Georgia are better positioned to win defense contracts and receive superior training for their workforce. The Air Force and the Army award the largest defense contracts in terms of dollar value to Georgia companies, while a military presence that ranks in the top five nationwide has created a sophisticated educational and training culture for defense contractors in the state.
Eight of the top 10 defense contractors in the nation have operations in Georgia, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics (Gulfstream), Raytheon, BAE Systems, United Technologies (Pratt & Whitney), L-3 Communications, and SAIC. Other notable Georgia defense companies include Heckler & Koch, Glock, Daniel Defense, and others.
With a strong military presence, an historic R&D partnership with the U.S. Air Force, and an outstanding educational system of 51 four-year colleges and universities as well as 35 technical colleges, defense contractors in Georgia are able to compete for government contracts and maintain the competitive advantage of a highly-skilled and highly-trained workforce tailored to the defense industry.
BENEFITS
Defense industry businesses in Georgia also enjoy these benefits:
- In conjunction with defense contractors and Fort Benning, Columbus State University has developed modeling and simulation and robotics courses for prospective defense contractor employees
- In Atlanta, Georgia Tech’s Defense Technology Program offers leading-edge training certification in nine defense technology areas, including modeling and simulation
- North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega is one of just six senior military colleges in the nation
- Close proximity to Robins Air Force Base and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
- Savannah has one of the top ports on the eastern seaboard and provides quick and easy access to vital ocean training and weapons systems training areas
- Georgia’s highways, railways, ports and airports enable swift and efficient transport of defense goods to both domestic and international customers
- An average of 600 military personally exit the service each month in Georgia creating a highly-skilled workforce ready for the future of virtually all defense related areas
- AIM Academy, located in Blakely, is a 2300 acre military/paramilitary training facility that is also open to defense companies for testing products
UNMANNED SYSTEMS
Anticipated U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) funding for unmanned systems is expected to be approximately $24.3 billion from 2007 – 2013, according to the DoD “Unmanned System Roadmap: 2007 – 2013.” Usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the Army has reached over 1 million hours, and Air Force usage will soon exceed 1 million hours. Unmanned systems will also draw the interest (and investment) of non-DoD, public and private entities, businesses and organizations. Learn more about Georgia’s role in the future of unmanned systems ▶
MILITARY PRESENCE
Georgia ranks fifth in the U.S. for total Department of Defense military, civilian direct-hire, reserve and national guard employment. Half of Georgia’s military personnel are active duty military, while the other half are civilian direct-hire and Reserve and National Guard. The Army employs 65 percent of Georgia’s military personnel, while the Air Force employs 23 percent, the Navy and Marine Corps employ 10 percent and other defense activities employ two percent.
The Army’s main locations within the state include Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, and Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Air Field. Over the past several years Fort Benning has undergone a $3.5 billion expansion to create the Maneuver Center of Excellence, which united Fort Benning's Infantry Center with the Armor Center and School from Fort Knox, Kentucky.
The Air Force’s main bases in the state include Robins Air Force Base and Moody Air Force Base as well as Dobbins Air Reserve Base. Robins Air Force Base, located south of Macon in middle Georgia, is the home of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Complex, the 78th Air Base Wing, and more than 60 other units that make up a vital part of the Air Force team. It is the largest industrial complex in Georgia, employing a workforce of about 25,000 civilians, contractors, and military members.
The Navy’s main operation in the state is Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay while the Marine Corps has the Marine Logistics Base Albany and Headquarters for the Marine Corps Logistics Command.
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE
Robins Air Force Base, located south of Macon in middle Georgia, is the home of Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, the 78th Air Base Wing, and more than 60 other units that make up a vital part of the Air Force team. It is the largest industrial complex in Georgia, employing a workforce of about 25,000 civilians, contractors, and military members.