Area companies working in the defense and aerospace sectors can expect support from the new Detroit Regional Defense Coalition (DRDC), formed by local business organizations and governments.
The coalition — launched in collaboration by the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP), Detroit Economic Growth Corp. (DEGC), and the county executives of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties — will work alongside the state of Michigan, local companies, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and other federal agencies to attract new investments, create jobs and expand opportunities across the tri-county region.
“Southeast Michigan has the talent, infrastructure, and innovation to be the Defense Capital of the Midwest,” said Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel in a joint statement.
“By aligning our engineering expertise, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and strong network of suppliers, we can grow high-quality jobs, attract new investment and ensure our region plays a vital role in supporting our nation’s defense and aerospace needs for decades to come.”
The Detroit region’s defense already includes two critical defense assets: the Detroit Arsenal in Warren and Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.
In 2023, contractors in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and the city of Detroit secured $4.63 billion in Department of Defense contracts, representing 75 percent of the state’s total contracts (latest figures available).
The sector employs more than 7,000 workers through more than 360 defense contractors in the region. They support more than 11,000 residents, who earned more than $1.7 billion in Department of Defense compensation in 2024.
The skills, workforce, and infrastructure built for the automotive industry are “highly transferable” to associated industries like defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing, making investment in these sectors a “natural fit” for the region and a strategic opportunity to further diversify the region’s economy, according to officials.
DRDC organizers say the coalition is the result of extensive collaboration with regional stakeholders. Over the past year, more than 20 leaders from industry and government organizations worked together in a series of meetings to shape the vision, structure, and mission of the coalition. These meetings crystallized the need for a unified regional voice and established a strong foundation of partners who will continue to support the DRDC.
By aligning regional leaders, industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and military partners, the DRDC is expected to champion policies and initiatives that enhance southeast Michigan’s competitiveness in the defense and aerospace markets.
Key priorities include:
- Accelerating defense industry growth and investment by attracting additional contracts, strengthening supply chains, and fostering new opportunities for regional businesses.
- Safeguarding and expanding critical missions and assets, while providing coordinated and strategic support to contractors and businesses across the region.
- Educating and advocating for regional priorities in Lansing and Washington, D.C., ensuring the Detroit region’s defense industry has a strong, coordinated voice at both the state and national level.
- Serving as the trusted source of data, analysis and messaging to unify stakeholders and elevate the Detroit region’s defense and aerospace profile on the national stage.
“Working together, our efforts are stronger,” says Vicki Selva, who will lead the coalition. “With our unmatched assets and capabilities, we can make a powerful case to the nation and our allies that the Detroit region is where you want to do defense and aerospace business.”
