Healey announces $47 million SHIELD initiative to grow Massachusetts defense innovation
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Summary
At a State House ceremony marking the Massachusetts National Guard—s 380th birthday, Governor Maura Healey announced the Massachusetts Strategic Hub for Innovation, Exchange, and Leadership in Defense (SHIELD) and said the state will "initially invest $47,000,000 statewide" to expand jobs and defense technology development.
Governor Maura Healey announced a new statewide defense-technology initiative, the Massachusetts Strategic Hub for Innovation, Exchange, and Leadership in Defense (SHIELD), and said the state will "initially invest $47,000,000 statewide" to spur jobs and grow companies that support service members and military families.
Speaking at a ceremony in Memorial Hall honoring the Massachusetts National Guard—s 380th birthday, Healey said the state is a "national security hub" that hosts military installations, the USS Constitution and 37 guard armories, and that the Guard and defense industry are engines for job creation. "This sector ... enables so many of our nation's security solutions to actually move forward," she said.
The governor framed SHIELD as both an economic and readiness effort: the program will target defense-related innovation, job creation and industry growth, and integrate military and veteran leadership and employment into the initiative. "Military and veteran leadership and employment will be critical components of this endeavor," Healey said.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Major General Gary Keith, the state Adjutant General, joined Healey in the audience and onstage for the ceremony. Healey thanked state leaders and the Guard for their role in emergencies and national operations, and said the SHIELD investment aims to create "jobs, to grow companies that support our men and women in uniform."
The announcement did not provide program-level details such as how the $47 million will be allocated, which agencies will manage grants or contracts, or an implementation timeline. Officials present described SHIELD as a state-led initiative to accelerate research, industry partnerships and workforce development tied to defense technology.
The ceremony drew military and civilian leaders and included commissioning, awards and other recognitions for Guard members. Healey—s remarks positioned SHIELD as part of a broader state strategy to combine the Guard—s personnel and Massachusetts—s innovation economy to bolster national defense and local jobs.
