Growth and Expansion Continues for Utah’s Aerospace and Defense Companies

Like its mountain landscapes, Utah’s aerospace and defense industry is deep and wide. Businesses including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L3 Harris, Parker Hannifin, and Hexcel are among the nearly 1,000 aerospace and defense companies with a decades-long history of producing, selling, and servicing commercial aircraft in Utah.

The state’s robust aerospace and defense ecosystem — which employs close to 34,000 people — was selected in 2020 as one of six Defense Manufacturing Communities in the nation to receive funding through the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP), managed by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The DMCSP provides $5 million over five years to help expand successful aerospace industry programs while also funding new initiatives to help communities prepare for the future of defense manufacturing. The ultimate goal is to create a single integrated program, including a prepared workforce, robust supply chain, cutting-edge research, small business support, and innovation incubators.

The DMCSP will be managed by the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), which leads the Utah Defense Manufacturing Community. GOED will partner with the Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) to administer the programs.

“The DMCSP elevates Utah to the next level as a destination for aerospace and defense companies and brings innovative ideas to reality,” said Dr. Tulinda Larsen, UAMMI executive director. “We could not be more optimistic about the future of this ecosystem.”

Much of the aerospace and defense ecosystem’s strength in Utah is linked to Hill Air Force Base (Hill AFB), the state’s sixth-largest employer. Hill AFB, home to the Air Force Materiel Command’s Ogden Air Logistics Complex, served as the Minuteman Missile logistical center and is now part of the Air Force Sustainment Center.

Led by Colonel Jenise M. Carroll, Hill AFB is the worldwide manager for a wide range of aircraft, engines, missiles, software, avionics, and accessories components. In addition to cutting-edge programs, it hosts high-tech military testing at Dugway Proving Grounds and several other developments at the Utah Unmanned Aerial Systems test center.

Private aerospace and defense companies also thrive in the state. Two of them — Northrop Grumman and L3 Harris — recently announced plans to expand in Utah. Northrop Grumman Corporation — currently the largest security and defense company in Utah with more than 5,100 employees — plans to create up to 2,250 new jobs in the next 20 years. The company provides innovative systems, products, and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. L3 Harris established roots in Utah in the 1950s and will add up to 250 jobs and $6.7 million in new state revenue over the next eight years. As a Top 10 defense contractor, L3 Harris plays a critical role in designing and manufacturing products to protect and defend freedoms worldwide.

Preparing and providing a talented workforce for these companies is key to the aerospace industry’s success across the state. Utah’s eight degree-granting colleges and universities offer robust programs to support and train aerospace engineers, materials scientists, and business experts. Specialized programs provided through technical colleges provide specific training and certifications to fill the machinists, welders, and composite technicians’ talent pipeline.

In 2015, aerospace and education leaders in the state formed an unprecedented partnership to develop the aerospace talent pipeline further. Together they created an industry-recognized certification that high school students could earn in one year. The certificate includes an internship and coursework, culminating in a guaranteed job interview with participating companies. Now known as Utah Aerospace Pathways (UAP), the program served 100 Utah students in 2020 alone.

“UAP provides a clear career path beginning with high school students and adult learners alike,” said Kimberlee Carlile, director of Talent Ready Utah. “Participants can not only see their future but shape it, by getting into a career with upward mobility and ultimately building a strong and capable workforce for the state’s aerospace industry.”

As Utah’s aerospace and defense industry sector builds on past accomplishments to create a prosperous future, the sky is truly the limit.