What is DIBCON
The number of small manufacturers in the U.S. defense industrial base is shrinking. Thousands of businesses - more than 40% of the total - have left the space over the past decade. In order to keep our nation’s armed forces moving, we must create new bridges between the Department of Defense and the nation’s manufacturing base.
The Defense Industrial Base Conference (DIBCON) was created to address this need. While other defense industry conferences and manufacturing expos exist, there is no single national event that brings together small manufacturers, economic development organizations, defense industry leaders, and DoD.
Until now.
Only direct engagement will get new manufacturers to raise their hand and say they want to help. We need to empower these small businesses to compete to aid our nation’s defensive surge capacity. The purpose of DIBCON is to create that opportunity.
Who is The Knudsen Institute
The Knudsen Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The Institute’s mission is to strengthen the surge capacity of the U.S. defense industrial base with a focus on small and medium sized manufacturers (SMMs). We seek to embody the spirit of the Institute’s namesake, William S. Knudsen – the architect and driving force behind establishing America’s defense manufacturing base leading up to and throughout World War II.
Our organization develops public policy, workforce development, and applied research solutions through an interdisciplinary approach to re-establish America’s domestic manufacturing base in support of our nation’s warfighters. In addition to our partnership with ARCTOS to host DIBCON, the Institute has begun developing promising technology solutions using deep learning and machine learning; new methods of data collection; and new approaches to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Additionally, Knudsen has launched Project 81, a manufacturing small business incubator program that provides access to cutting edge manufacturing equipment to small manufacturers seeking to engage with the DoD, as well as to career technical centers and universities to supplement their educational opportunities.
Visit us at www.surgetheory.org to learn more and to get involved.
Who is ARCTOS
From focused webinars and workshops, restricted and classified meetings, hybrid and virtual events, to large technical conferences with 2000+ national and international attendees, ARCTOS’ Meetings Management Department has the proven experience to foster communication and collaboration across the technical community to meet your organizational goals.
You set the subject matter and goals, and we’ll bring the rest.
Visit us at www.ARCTOS-US.com to learn more.
ARCTOS Organized Event Series Include:
- AA&S – The Aircraft Airworthiness & Sustainment Conference
- ASIP – The Aircraft Structural Integrity Program Conference
- AVTech – Air Vehicles Technology Symposium
- CMS – The Conference on Composites, Materials, & Structures
- DIBCON – Defense Industrial Base Conference
Meet the DIBCON Committee
Alex Gray
Managing Partner & former Deputy Assistant to the
President of the United States
American Global Strategies
Allyson Carson
Director of Membership & Development
Oklahoma Defense Industry Association (ODIA)
Brad Mowdy
Owner & Manufacturing subject matter expert
Mowdy Machine
Caitlin Nicolson
Senior Vice President of Programs
Knudsen Institute
Carl Pickard
Industrial Supply Chain Subject Matter Expert
Elise Rountree
Meetings Coordinator
ARCTOS
Elissa Lyons
Senior Graphic Designer
ARCTOS
James Skinner
Vice President for AGS & former Special Assistant to the U.S. National Security Advisor
American Global Strategies
Janelle Stafford
Regional Business Development Manager & Air & Space Forces Association National Director
MOOG, Inc.
Jill Jennewine
Director, Meetings Management
ARCTOS
Katie Curtner
Meeting & Event Coordinator
ARCTOS
Kris Kaiser
Graphics Team Manager
ARCTOS
Kristi Altstatt
Logistics Management Specialist
Alstatt Consulting
Lee Levy
Global Strategic Thought leaders & Board of Directors and Chair of Logistics Management Division
Levy Group
Loren Smith
Executive Director & former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at Department of Transportation
Knudsen Institute
Lynn Tomaszewski
Director Government Programs; NSBA Leadership Council; & MERIT Board Chair
Sellmark Corporation
Maurice Compton
Owner & CEO
Ready3
Michael Farmer
Aerospace and Defense Supply Chain Subject Matter Expert
Viking Innovations
Michael Morford
Founder & Chairman
Knudsen Institute
Mike Boyte
Manufacturing/Operations Management and Improvement
Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC)
Nicola Frisby
Critical Components Aerospace
Tim Frisby
Managing Partner
Critical Components Aerospace
Rick Vance
Technology and Infrastructure Manager
ARCTOS
Taylor Jackson
Skilled Machinist & Small Business Owner Subject Matter Expert
Knudsen Institute
