Defense Alliance of Minnesota and Shield Technologies co-host Defense Industry Roundtable

St. Paul, June 1st, 2006 -- The Defense Alliance of Minnesota and Shield Technologies co-hosted the Defense Industry Roundtable on Thursday.  “Minnesota’s Role in the Nation’s Defense:  A View From Capitol Hill” was a half-day event held at the Eagan Community Center, Eagan Minnesota, and was attended by more than 80 people representing Minnesota’s defense and homeland security industry.  Also present were representatives from the staffs of Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) and Congressman Mark Kennedy (R-6th), the Governor’s Manufacturer’s Representative and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Coordinator, and the state’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).  Sponsors included Lockheed Martin, Minnesota Wire & Cable Co., SMI, Inc. and Shield Technologies. 

Following opening comments from Defense Alliance founder Paul J. Wagner, Congressman Martin Sabo, Minnesota’s 5th District Democratic representative provided a political perspective on the nation’s defense effort.  Tom Nelson, General Manager of Shield Technologies introduced the Congressman, and provided a perspective on Sabo’s long career, focusing on his leadership in obtaining critical funding for small businesses in Minnesota, principally as the 3rd most senior ranking member of the influential House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. 

Congressman Sabo, who is retiring from elective public service after more than 40 years (including 14 terms as a U.S. Representative) remarked on his career, and on the role of business – particularly small business – in the defense industry.  Speaking about the Congressional “earmark” process (which provides congressionally-funded dollars to businesses above that requested in the President’s budget), Sabo defended earmarks as a “critical part of the budget process,” that “adds value to our military, and helps small businesses here in Minnesota.”  He was confident that the earmark system would remain a vital part of the landscape in Washington.  He then took questions and led a discussion about the future role of Minnesota business for urgent needs in defense and homeland security.

Following Congressman Sabo’s remarks, he was presented with tokens of thanks from Wendy Underwood of Lockheed Martin’s Eagan facility; Dave Bell, President & CEO of Phygen, Inc., and the Defense Alliance membership itself.

The program also included a brief on Minnesota’s military role in the nation’s defense from Alliance facilitator Andy Davis (an Army Veteran who is running for state legislature in the St. Peter district), and Alliance director Chip Laingen.  The capstone of the event was a well-received presentation on Defense Lobbying from Max Chamovitz of the Washington, D.C.-based lobby firm SMI, Inc.

The June Defense Industry Roundtable was the latest in a series of quarterly events organized by the Defense Alliance of Minnesota, the state’s network for the defense and homeland security industry.  Future activities include a Twin Cities conference on homeland security co-hosted with the National Defense Industrial Association (Spring 2007).

The Defense Alliance is an independent organization whose mission is to network and expand Minnesota ’s defense and homeland security industries, to create and retain high quality jobs, and to further promote the state’s important contributions to our men and women of the armed forces.  Information on ongoing issues and future events can be found at the Alliance website, www.defensealliance.com.