Defense Innovation Group Creates New Indiana Chapter

(Image of Dr. Alison Smith courtesy of NSWC Crane Public Affairs.)

Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, a national defense innovation organization, is launching a chapter in Indiana. The first meeting will take place Thursday at Switchyard Brewery in Bloomington and feature a three-member panel of industry leaders, including Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center Chief Engineer Alison Smith, Odon-based Artisan Electronics Inc. Chief Operating Officer Gregory Sapp and Indianapolis-based LUCIDIA iT Chief Executive Officer Janet Stiller.

Sapp calls DEF Bloomington an asset to the state that could provide opportunities for experts and innovators in defense fields. "If we were able to bring innovative ideas to the local DoD community through DEF Bloomington, we’ll be able to strengthen our national security. National security is something that is critical for all of us."

Smith says "Globally, trade of counterfeit goods is the second largest source of organized crime income and is surpassed only by the illicit drug trade. The Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy predicts the global economic impact to be upwards of $1.7 trillion annually." She was recognized recently for developments in microelectronic counterfeit technology.

Stiller’s areas of focus include data centers, enterprise networking and cloud technologies.

You can connect to more about the DEF Bloomington event by clicking here.