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DOD roundtable draws defense contractors, raises workforce and security-clearance challenges
Summary
An industry roundtable convened by the EDA to bring Department of Defense contractors together highlighted workforce shortages, security-clearance delays and a need for pre-apprenticeship training and better coordination among educators and employers.
The Economic Development Authority reported on a June 25 Department of Defense industry roundtable intended to connect local defense contractors and service providers with workforce and training resources.
About 20 representatives from firms such as Mills Marine, Crofton, Fairlead, NASSCO Norfolk and General Dynamics attended, staff said. The Hampton Roads Alliance presented a “playbook” outlining regional Department of Defense-related growth opportunities and how those trends could affect Portsmouth companies.
Why it matters: panelists and staff said the discussion highlighted a mismatch between employer needs and available workforce skills. Companies described demand for skilled trades and shipbuilding/repair competencies; several firms are seeking skilled workers and developing apprenticeship programs. Participants and staff said security-clearance timing can be a bottleneck: a clearance process that takes months leaves new hires in limbo and reduces workforce throughput.
Key takeaways from the roundtable - Workforce pipelines: attendees said the city and regional partners should expand pre-apprenticeship and training seats and better coordinate programs so that graduates have clear job pathways. - Apprenticeships and partnerships: Mills Marine announced plans for an apprenticeship program; attendees suggested local colleges and the workforce council could align curricula with employer needs. - Security-clearance delays: businesses noted that security-clearance processing (used for many shipyard and defense jobs) can count months and create hiring friction; companies described using non-cleared back-shop work as an interim employment pathway for some recruits.
Staff follow-up and planning: the EDA’s workforce staff and partners are mapping available programs and working to measure program outcomes (e.g., how many program graduates secure jobs). Staff said they will repeat the outreach model for other industry segments on a quarterly basis.
Ending: EDA leaders called the roundtable a successful template for industry outreach and said they plan further sessions focused on retail and other sectors while continuing workforce-education coordination.
