INTRODUCTION

Missouri is America’s national security epicenter.  Home to major homeland security and defense companies, along with world-class research institutions, technology transfer institutions, start-ups and incubators, Missouri provides an active venture capital environment and a full spectrum of capital availability.

Missouri’s Homeland Security, Defense and related industries include components of the United States Departments of Defense, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Homeland Security, the Intelligence Community and associated research and development, education, and contractors.

Missouri’s national security industries received over $20 billion in direct federal investment in the last year, not including foreign investment in national security-related products. Missouri is seventh in the nation in Defense procurements and St. Louis ranks second in Defense outlays.

Missouri has well over 50,000 employees in its national security industries with over 2,300 organizations receiving federal contracts and grants.  This includes over 16,000 active duty military and 10,000 Defense civilians. Missouri has over 25,000 National Guard and Reserve members and ranks fifth in Reserve Component outlays.

Missouri has several unique organizations with national security industry interests, which promote national security industry development within their charters.  Among these are the Missouri Technology Corporation, Missouri Partnership, Missouri Enterprise, University of Missouri System and its research parks, and Missouri State University and the Jordan Valley Research Center.

MAJOR COMPANIES

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS)

St. Louis, MO

Boeing IDS operations include significant components and assembly for the F-15, F-18, and C-17 aircrafts, AH-64 and other helicopters, and other national security-related programs.  Boeing employs 16,000 people in Missouri.

GKN Aerospace

Hazelwood, MO

GKN is the world's No.1 independent supplier of composite aircraft structures and is a leader in the design and manufacture of complex metal alloy structures and special products, including canopy systems, aircraft transparencies and de-icing systems. Its customers include leading manufacturers of civil and military, fixed and rotary wing aircraft and aero engines.  GKN is a supplier of structures and components to a wide range of U.S. military aircraft including the F/A - 18E/F, F/A-22, C-17, F-15 and F-35.

Westar Aerospace and Defense Group, Inc.

St. Charles, MO

Located in the Missouri Research Park, Westar is a leading systems engineering contractor with more than 1,200 professionals around the world delivering high-value engineering, software solutions, logistics information management and IT technical support services to the U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments and select commercial customers.  Westar is a member of the QinetiQ North America family of companies, which has more than 5,000 engineers and technologists working in partnership with customers to develop innovative technology solutions to meet the challenges of national defense, homeland security and information access. 

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK)

Independence, MO

This company operates the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP). LCAAP is the largest small-arms (5.56 - 20 mm) ammunition manufacturing plant in the world. LCAAP operates under stringent environmental guidelines and has proven that it can continue to be the largest supplier of small caliber ammunition to the United States Department of Defense, while retaining a superb record on the environment.  LCAAP employs about 800 people.

Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies

Kansas City, MO

Honeywell operates the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Kansas City Plant (KCP). As part of the NNSA’s nuclear weapons complex, KCP’s primary mission is to assemble and manufacture components for national defense systems. The KCP is a multi-mission facility that supports other government agencies, as well as national laboratories, universities, and U.S. industry. KCP is managed and operated by Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies and uses best practices such as Six Sigma and Total Quality.   KCP employs about 2,700 people.

KEY FACILITIES

Missouri is home to major military installations, including:

Fort Leonard Wood

St. Robert, MO

Fort Wood is home to the U.S. Army Engineer Corps and School, Military Police Corps and School, Chemical Corps and School, Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN), and has significant participation in doctrine and training from other services.

Whiteman Air Force Base

Knob Noster, MO

Whiteman Base is home to the 509th Bomb Wing, which flies and maintains the Air Force's premier weapon system, the B-2 bomber, the Air Force Reserve 442nd Fighter Wing flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the Missouri Army National Guard 1-135th Aviation Battalion flying the AH-64 Apache helicopter, and the Navy Reserve Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 114.

Rosecrans Air National Guard Base

St. Joseph, MO

This Air base is home to the Missouri Air National Guard 139^th Airlift Wing, flying C-130 aircraft, and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center (AATTC).

1107^th Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot (AVCRAD)

Springfield, MO

The 1107^th AVCRAD performs maintenance and supply combat service support functions executed at the depot level. It is responsible for limited depot aircraft maintenance, component repair, pass-back aviation intermediate maintenance, and operation of a supply support activity. The 1107th AVCRAD supports 580 Army Guard helicopters in a 14-state area from Texas to North Dakota.

United States Army Human Resources Command (HRC)

St. Louis, MO

The HRC maintains records and provides a variety of human resources services for Army Reserve soldiers, veterans, and retirees.

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Operations

St. Louis, MO

Geospatial intelligence is the exploitation and analysis of cartographic, imagery and geodetic information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the Earth.  NGA St. Louis employs about 3,000 people.

RESEARCH – ADVANCING THE INDUSTRY

Leading-edge Homeland Security and Defense research is being conducted at such renowned centers as the:

Midwest Research Institute (MRI)

Kansas City, MO

MRI addresses a variety of scientific and technical interests, including creation of a biological collection and detection system and other programs related to U.S. national security concerns.

University of Missouri (MU) – Columbia’s Discovery Ridge

Columbia, MO

Discovery Ridge is MU’s research park for businesses that directly relate to and support research and economic development.  As such, it is an exclusive university research park dedicated to tenants who desire proximity to the research at the University of Missouri.

The University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood

Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

This is the first technology park in the nation to be located on an active Army post. The 62-acre park was developed by the University of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Economic Development with the backing of Fort Leonard Wood. The park encourages technology transfer from the University of Missouri and is a major boost to the regional economy.

Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T) Innovation Park

Rolla, MO

This new technology park just came on line in 2007 and is designed to leverage the strong engineering, science and technology base of MS&T by serving as the link for invention, commercialization, entrepreneurship, economic development and job creation in the South Central Missouri Region. The Innovation Park supports MS&T’s mission to become one of the top five technological research institutions by 2010.  The MS&T was formally the University of Missouri - Rolla.

The Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC)

Springfield, MO

Located at Missouri State University, the JVIC provides advanced research and development equipment and facilities infrastructure that corporate affiliates share for product development. Corporate affiliates both develop products and locate manufacturing facilities in Springfield. The JVIC has significant support inside and outside Missouri for corporate affiliate research projects from national security-related organizations and state agencies.

The Missouri Research Park (MRP)

Chesterfield, MO

The MRP is a 200-acre research and development park located near St. Louis.  It has been a catalyst for development along the Highway 40/61 high-tech corridor in St. Charles County.  It is owned and managed by the University of Missouri.  As an integral part of its land-grant mission, the University developed and manages the Missouri Research Park and several similar projects throughout the state with the objective of supporting Missouri’s economic growth by developing and sustaining research and technology alliances among the University, government agencies and private companies.

ASSOCIATIONS – SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRY

Leonard Wood Institute (LWI)

Fort Leonard Wood, MO

LWI is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated in the state of Missouri in 2003.  LWI supports the development, transfer and utilization of new technologies developed or provided in Missouri that have applicability to the U.S. Army's mission at Fort Leonard Wood and to the technology needs of the Department of Defense on a world-wide basis. LWI is located at the University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood and is one of the first technology collaborative parks located on an active military base. 

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