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Barron partners with Oakland County and Michigan to make State a leader in Aerospace and Defense Industry

Oxford, MI – Barron Industries has joined Oakland County and Michigan in efforts to bolster the state’s defense and aerospace sectors by accessing the $400 billion in U.S. defense technology opportunities. Barron sponsors several state and county industry events including the Defense Innovate and Integrate Summit (Di2) where industry leaders, government officials and defense experts came together to help businesses navigate the Department of Defense (DoD) market and win contracts.

Making opening remarks were County Executive Dave Coulter and Colonel John T. Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Michigan Office of Defense & Aerospace Innovation (ODAI).

Lissa Barron of Barron Industries and Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter at the Di2 Summit

“Oakland County is committed to opening doors for our technology businesses to explore new markets, and the Di2 Summit is an excellent opportunity for them to connect with the Department of Defense,” said Coulter. “This event will help our businesses understand how they can contribute to national security while driving economic growth right here at home.”

“Michigan put the world on wheels and our industrial might helped win World War II,” said Gutierrez. “What we now need to do is to leverage this heritage to lead the defense and aerospace markets of tomorrow.”

Michigan is home to 4,000 defense and 900 aerospace companies that contribute $30 billion to the state’s economy and provides 166,000 jobs for Michiganders.

Oxford-based Barron Industries is a leading manufacturer of metal components used for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications. The company is planning to open a new Aerospace and Defense Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center to meet growing demand for its military components.

Other Di2 Summit sponsors include:

  • UM Economic Growth Institute: Collaborates with businesses to stimulate economic development, providing resources and expertise to support defense sector innovation.
  • ERDCWERX: A collaborative innovation hub connecting the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center with industry and academia to accelerate technology development.
  • NAMC (National Advanced Mobility Consortium): Fosters partnerships among industry, academia, and government to advance mobility technologies for defense applications.
  • National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): The NDIA Michigan Chapter connects defense industry leaders, government representatives, and academic professionals in Michigan to support and advance U.S. defense initiatives. The chapter hosts events, offers networking opportunities, and provides resources to promote collaboration and innovation within Michigan’s defense sector.