Episode 20: Revolutionizing Maritime: The Push for Technology and Talent in Virginia with Mark Whitney​

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Manufacturing an American Century, Matt chats with Mark Whitney, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral and now the Executive Director of the Virginia Digital Maritime Center at Old Dominion University. Mark talks about his transition from a 34-year naval career to leading efforts in modernizing Virginia’s maritime industry in Hampton Roads. Matt and Mark dive into the hurdles that small and medium-sized businesses face in the defense sector, especially when it comes to securing steady contracts and navigating the complexities of the defense industrial base. Mark also highlights the importance of developing the workforce and adopting new technologies to keep the industry competitive, as AMCC experienced during its 2023 Virginia Roadshow. Mark’s reflections are aligned with what we are seeing around the nation; that crucial strategic planning and collaboration is needed for strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base. A clear message appears in our conversation: it’s going to take a collective impact approach to keep American manufacturing strong in a rapidly changing world. Thanks again to Mark for joining for an excellent discussion!

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Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Participants:

• Mark Whitney, Executive Director, Virginia Digital Maritime Center
• Matt Bogoshian: Executive Director, American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative and host of the podcast.

💡 Key Ideas:

• Challenges for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): The discussion highlights the difficulties SMEs face in securing stable defense contracts, which can inhibit their ability to invest in technology and workforce development.
• Workforce Development: Mark emphasizes the need to inspire and train the next generation of workers, breaking down the stigma that manufacturing jobs are a last resort.
• Importance of Strategic Planning and Relationship Building: Mark gets at the immediate need for long-term strategic planning and collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base.
• Adopting New Technologies: Mark advocates for the integration of new technologies within the maritime industry to maintain competitiveness and efficiency.

🔗Links to Learn More:

• Find Mark on Linkedin.
• Learn more about the Virginia Digital Maritime Center.
• Learn about VDMC’s partners including:
  • ODU’s Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation
  • Virginia Regional Maritime Training System
  • Virginia Ship Repair Association
• Follow AMCC on Linkedin.
• Find Matt on Linkedin.