The directors of the ManTech programs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense Logistics Agency and Missile Defense Agency coordinate their programs through the auspices of the congressionally-chartered Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP) with representation from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and industry. The JDMTP is organized to identify and integrate requirements, conduct joint program planning and develop joint strategies. Department of Defense (DoD) oversight is provided by the Office of Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy which was established by the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act to ensure that the linkage between industrial policy and manufacturing is firmly established and effectively coordinated.
Supporting the panel are four technical JDMTP subpanels in composites, electronics, metals and advanced manufacturing enterprise. Each of the subpanels with members from each of the components conducts an annual peer review of projects within its portfolio, identifies opportunities for collaboration and provides input to the panel on opportunities for future investment areas. Industry and academia subject-matter experts participate as appropriate.
More details about the DoD ManTech Program, the ManTech Programs of the other services and DLA and the JDMTP may be found at the DoD ManTech website.
Defense Manufacturing Conference
Held annually, the Defense Manufacturing Conference (DMC) brings together leaders from government, industry and academia to exchange perspectives and information about critical DoD manufacturing technologies. The focus is on the production and sustainment of affordable defense systems.
With an average attendance of 1,000, evenly split between government and industry participants with a small number from academia, the DMC has become the principal national forum for discussion of defense manufacturing issues, policies, programs and capabilities, as well as counterpart industry initiatives and concerns. Attendees range from chief executive officer and flag officer/Senior Executive Service-level to working-level engineers.