Industrial Symposium
ABOUT
The Offices of US Senator Thom Tillis and US Senator Ted Budd, and the North Carolina Military Business Center will host the Defense Industrial Sustainment for Combat Systems (DISC) Summit in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
When. March 18-19, 2026 (postponed from November 18-19, 2025)
WHERE. University of North Carolina, The Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
- Printable Parking Pass will be available closer to the event.
- Directions to the Friday Center
Purpose of the DISC Summit. To sustain and expand the supply chain and service providers within the defense aerospace, ground vehicle, maritime and armaments markets.
Premise of the DISC Summit
- The defense aerospace, ground vehicle, maritime and armaments markets represent tremendous business opportunity
- OEMs, subcontractors, service providers and suppliers are often siloed in these market sectors
- Future sustainment and supply chain resilience will require breaking silos, engaging new businesses and promoting dialogue among the defense industrial and R&D ecosystem
Goals of the DISC Summit:
- Engaging current and prospective suppliers and service providers to leverage prime contracting opportunities with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies across these market silos
- Engaging current and prospective suppliers to leverage subcontracting opportunities with OEMS/prime contractors across these market silos
- Informing the industrial/academia R&D ecosystem about future defense technology imperatives, and agencies about emerging and future technologies in these sectors
- Establishing a productive and DIRECT dialogue around critical issues in the defense industrial market – including supply chain, maintenance/repair/overhaul (MRO), workforce, inflation and barriers to entry
Who should participate in the DISC Summit:
- Current OEMs, prime contractors, suppliers and service providers in the defense aerospace, ground vehicle, maritime and armaments markets
- Businesses considering engaging as an OEM, prime contractor, supplier and/or service provider within these markets
- Industry- and academia-based entities conducting R&D and new product development for aerospace, vehicle, maritime and armament systems
- Federal and Defense agencies engaged in requirements generation, acquisition, sustainment and R&D within these markets