Our 70 years of technological success is difficult to sum up in just a few words, so we would like to share insights into each of our programs from the people who oversee them on a day-to-day basis. Each program within the DoW ManTech enterprise is vital to enhancing warfighter readiness, providing our troops with state-of-the-art capabilities that strengthen their resilience and reinforce America’s position as the global leader in manufacturing technology.
Washington, DC — Seventy years ago, Congress, recognizing the critical role manufacturing played in national security, established the Manufacturing Technology Program (ManTech) within the Department of Defense to bridge the gap between technological innovation and full-scale production. ManTech continues to fulfill that mission to this day, taking on complex manufacturing challenges that exceed the risk tolerance and investment capacity of private industry. This strategic investment has been instrumental in scaling the production of the nation's most vital defense assets, including precision-guided weapons, stealth aircraft, submarines, microelectronics, and advanced combat vehicles.
Bridging innovation and production is driven by leaders who understand advanced manufacturing from the ground up. Long before he led the ManTech Program, Director Keith DeVries learned firsthand the importance of advanced manufacturing while working as a teen on the factory floor of a company producing automated cooling spray that kept the massive B-1 bomber’s wings pivoting smoothly in flight.
"We had this giant banner on the wall above our assembly floor of the B1 bomber. I could see that banner in the background and understood what I was working on and how this capability was enabling its flight."
It was a such a powerful symbol that even as a child DeVries could understand he was involved in something much bigger than just the small piece of equipment he was momentarily working on. That sentiment remains with him today – and reverberates throughout the entire ManTech team.
"ManTech supports warfighters by ensuring that we, the United States, have the industrial capability to manufacture next-generation warfighting systems that give us an asymmetric advantage. In order to do that, we have to be able to manufacture at scale to deploy those groundbreaking technologies across our fleet and forces – equipping warfighters with the tools they need to defend our democracy."
Established in 1956, ManTech is the only program in the Department of War that is Congressionally mandated to invest in advanced manufacturing that:
- Supports the rapid economical acquisition and sustainment of weapon systems and components.
- Ensure advanced manufacturing processes and equipment are available to reduce maintenance and repair costs.
- Bridges the gap from research and development to full-scale production.
- Reduces the costs and risks for industry in applying emerging technologies.
- Ensures defense manufacturing complies with DoW health, safety and energy protocols.
- Expands and enhances workforce skills needed in advanced manufacturing for both civilian and uniformed personnel.
- Prioritizes national defense needs with investments directed at critical technology areas.
The DoW has several technology development programs, such as DARPA and the Defense Innovation Unit but in most cases, those programs are focused on the development of a raw technology capability – and not necessarily on scaling up technology for production. DeVries said the other technology-driven programs are focused on finding the next generation "widget" that will gives the Services completely new capabilities.
"But to produce the things being developed, they need manufacturing. Where we fit is in something of the crossroads between those two mindsets. We exist to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the manufacturing process so that we are better equipped to supply it to our warfighters. Our focus is on new manufacturing capabilities that can effectively be scaled up to produce those new technologies and making it affordable enough so that the defense industrial base can make it."
As defense systems have grown increasingly complex, ManTech has also continued to evolve – rising to the challenges of the modern technological age. The program has expanded its focus to fortify the broader defense industrial base through initiatives in digital manufacturing, automation, advanced materials, supply chain resilience and workforce development. Seventy years after its inception, ManTech’s foundational mission remains laser-focused on ensuring the United States possesses the robust manufacturing capabilities required to rapidly and affordably deliver next-generation capabilities to the warfighter – not only manufacturing the Military's future but also America's economic strength.