Partner Directory

Featured Partners

Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM)

The Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) is Mississippi’s industry alliance for aerospace and defense companies, giving the sector a stronger collective platform for advocacy, visibility, and business development. ADAM represents Mississippi’s industry on policy, hosts the annual Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, and joins GCBC and Hancock County Port & Harbor in carrying Mississippi’s story to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. ADAM’s growth from 12 members in 2021 to more than 60 today reflects the strength of Mississippi’s industry voice—built in partnership with MSET, which used a DoW-funded ecosystem study to transform its former membership structure into ADAM and create durable industry infrastructure for the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Development Authority

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is the state’s lead economic development agency, driving the recruitment, retention, and expansion of businesses across Mississippi and serving as a founding partner in MSET’s public-private model. MDA aligns state strategy, federal assets at Stennis, and industry recruitment so Mississippi can compete for aerospace, defense, and technology projects with one coordinated voice. A leading example is the collaboration among MDA, MSET, and NASA to locate Evolution Space at Stennis Space Center—a concrete demonstration of MDA’s role in turning federal capability into state investment. MDA’s coordinated efforts have helped Mississippi capture more than $28 billion in DoD awards, $725 million in corporate investment, and over 2,700 jobs created across 200+ defense companies in the last four years.

Website | LinkedIn

NASA (Stennis Space Center)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s John C. Stennis Space Center is the nation’s largest rocket propulsion test site and a foundational multi-agency federal campus that enables cross-domain collaboration in aerospace, energy, and national security missions. As Mississippi’s most consequential federal asset, Stennis hosts more than 50 resident agencies and companies and supports roughly 6,000 aerospace jobs—establishing the state as a launch-and-test capital for both government and commercial space programs. NASA’s continued investment in Stennis is the catalyst for landmark Mississippi wins like Evolution Space’s relocation to SSC, brokered with MDA and MSET, demonstrating how federal infrastructure converts directly into in-state commercial growth.

Website | LinkedIn

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MSET Partners

All MSET partners supporting aerospace, defense, and technology growth in Mississippi.

Accelerate MS

Accelerate Mississippi is the state’s workforce development office, coordinating training, credentialing, and talent pipeline programs across industry, K-12, community colleges, and universities. Accelerate MS aligns workforce investment with the needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers—ensuring the state’s talent supply keeps pace with industry growth and high-wage job creation.

Website | LinkedIn

Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM)

The Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) is Mississippi’s industry alliance for aerospace and defense companies, giving the sector a stronger collective platform for advocacy, visibility, and business development. ADAM represents Mississippi’s industry on policy, hosts the annual Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, and joins GCBC and Hancock County Port & Harbor in carrying Mississippi’s story to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. ADAM’s growth from 12 members in 2021 to more than 60 today reflects the strength of Mississippi’s industry voice—built in partnership with MSET, which used a DoW-funded ecosystem study to transform its former membership structure into ADAM and create durable industry infrastructure for the state.

Website | LinkedIn

ERDCWERX

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

Website | LinkedIn

FLC

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is the nationwide network that facilitates the commercialization of research and technology developed at more than 300 federal labs and centers. FLC opens a clearer pathway for Mississippi companies, researchers, and universities to access federal IP and licensing pipelines—particularly those tied to Stennis-resident agencies and nearby ERDC capabilities.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Blue

Gulf Blue is Mississippi’s Blue Economy initiative led by the University of Southern Mississippi, supporting marine technology startups through programs like the Gulf Blue Navigator accelerator and a growing ocean-innovation network on the Gulf Coast. Gulf Blue connects ocean and maritime technology companies to federal assets at Stennis—including NOAA, NRL, and CNMOC—and integrates Mississippi’s Blue Economy into the state’s broader aerospace and defense innovation strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Coast Business Council

The Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) is the region’s leading business advocacy and economic development organization, shaping priorities and amplifying the Gulf Coast’s competitive strengths in workforce, infrastructure, and industry recruitment. MSET collaborates with GCBC to position Mississippi’s aerospace, defense, and technology story beyond state lines—ensuring Gulf Coast business leadership is connected to statewide growth strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

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Federal Partners

Federal agencies supporting aerospace, defense, and technology growth in Mississippi.

ERDCWERX

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

Website | LinkedIn

FLC

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is the nationwide network that facilitates the commercialization of research and technology developed at more than 300 federal labs and centers. FLC opens a clearer pathway for Mississippi companies, researchers, and universities to access federal IP and licensing pipelines—particularly those tied to Stennis-resident agencies and nearby ERDC capabilities.

Website | LinkedIn

NASA (Stennis Space Center)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s John C. Stennis Space Center is the nation’s largest rocket propulsion test site and a foundational multi-agency federal campus that enables cross-domain collaboration in aerospace, energy, and national security missions. As Mississippi’s most consequential federal asset, Stennis hosts more than 50 resident agencies and companies and supports roughly 6,000 aerospace jobs—establishing the state as a launch-and-test capital for both government and commercial space programs. NASA’s continued investment in Stennis is the catalyst for landmark Mississippi wins like Evolution Space’s relocation to SSC, brokered with MDA and MSET, demonstrating how federal infrastructure converts directly into in-state commercial growth.

Website | LinkedIn

Naval Air Systems Command

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is the Navy’s principal organization for acquiring, developing, testing, and sustaining naval aviation systems—from aircraft and weapons to training and engineering services. NAVAIR’s procurement, sustainment, and research pipelines are a direct fit for Mississippi’s existing aerospace and defense industrial base, opening contracting and partnership pathways for the state’s manufacturers, suppliers, and engineering firms.

Website | LinkedIn

Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command

The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC), headquartered at Stennis Space Center, delivers global ocean, weather, and geospatial intelligence that informs Navy operations and national defense decisions. CNMOC’s headquarters presence makes Mississippi a strategic hub for naval science—anchoring concentrations of high-wage technical talent and creating sustained demand for the state’s defense, geospatial, and technology companies.

Website | LinkedIn

NAVSEA

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the Navy’s largest systems command, responsible for the design, engineering, sustainment, and procurement of the Navy’s ships, submarines, and combat systems. NAVSEA’s procurement and sustainment programs are a direct match for Mississippi’s Gulf Coast shipbuilding base—most prominently Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula—and a primary source of work for the state’s defense supply chain.

Website | LinkedIn

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) delivers weather, climate, ocean, and environmental intelligence that drives mission-critical work across maritime, defense, and aerospace sectors, with a deep operational presence at Stennis through the National Centers for Environmental Information and the National Data Buoy Center. NOAA’s Mississippi footprint anchors the state’s role in environmental intelligence and Blue Economy innovation—generating high-wage federal employment and creating procurement and partnership opportunities for the state’s oceanographic, geospatial, and technology firms.

Website | LinkedIn

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the Navy’s corporate research lab and runs a broad program of scientific research and advanced technology development, with a major detachment at Stennis Space Center focused on oceanography and marine geosciences. NRL’s Stennis presence brings world-class naval R&D into Mississippi’s backyard—creating commercialization opportunities, defense applications, and high-skill research positions that pull talent and investment into the state.

Website | LinkedIn

U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) supports entrepreneurs and small firms with access to capital, counseling, government contracting pathways, and disaster assistance. SBA programs help Mississippi technology and aerospace small businesses move from idea to execution—connecting SBA resources to federal supply chains, capital tools, and contracting pathways across the state’s R&D assets.

Website | LinkedIn

State/Local Partners

State/Local agencies supporting aerospace, defense, and technology growth in Mississippi.

Accelerate MS

Accelerate Mississippi is the state’s workforce development office, coordinating training, credentialing, and talent pipeline programs across industry, K-12, community colleges, and universities. Accelerate MS aligns workforce investment with the needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers—ensuring the state’s talent supply keeps pace with industry growth and high-wage job creation.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Coast Business Council

The Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) is the region’s leading business advocacy and economic development organization, shaping priorities and amplifying the Gulf Coast’s competitive strengths in workforce, infrastructure, and industry recruitment. MSET collaborates with GCBC to position Mississippi’s aerospace, defense, and technology story beyond state lines—ensuring Gulf Coast business leadership is connected to statewide growth strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Hancock Port Air Space

Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission operates Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport—critical logistics, rail, aerospace, and industrial assets located adjacent to NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Together with Stennis, those assets present the Gulf Coast as a coordinated innovation corridor with the infrastructure, runway access, and industrial sites that aerospace, defense, and maritime employers need.

Website | LinkedIn

Innovate Mississippi

Innovate Mississippi is the state’s nonprofit for supporting startups and growth-stage companies—running accelerator programs, mentoring networks, and capital access services across Mississippi. Innovate Mississippi gives aerospace, defense, and technology founders access to mentorship, early-stage capital, federal commercialization pathways, and state R&D assets through a single pipeline.

Website | LinkedIn

Louisiana Technology Transfer Office

The Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO) helps regional companies and entrepreneurs access and commercialize technology developed at federal labs, including NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility just across the state line from Stennis. LTTO is a regional peer that strengthens the cross-border aerospace and technology corridor anchored by Stennis, Michoud, and the Gulf Coast—expanding pathways for Mississippi companies pursuing federal technology transfer and dual-use partnerships.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi APEX Accelerator

The Mississippi APEX Accelerator (formerly the state’s PTAC program, housed at MDA) helps Mississippi businesses navigate government contracting — from registration and certifications to bid preparation and compliance across federal, state, and local agencies. APEX is the front-line resource that gets Mississippi aerospace, defense, and technology firms ready to win and deliver on federal contracts tied to Stennis-resident agencies, DoD buyers, and state programs.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Development Authority

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is the state’s lead economic development agency, driving the recruitment, retention, and expansion of businesses across Mississippi and serving as a founding partner in MSET’s public-private model. MDA aligns state strategy, federal assets at Stennis, and industry recruitment so Mississippi can compete for aerospace, defense, and technology projects with one coordinated voice. A leading example is the collaboration among MDA, MSET, and NASA to locate Evolution Space at Stennis Space Center—a concrete demonstration of MDA’s role in turning federal capability into state investment. MDA’s coordinated efforts have helped Mississippi capture more than $28 billion in DoD awards, $725 million in corporate investment, and over 2,700 jobs created across 200+ defense companies in the last four years.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Manufaturers Association-Manufacturing Extention Partnership (MMA MEP)

The Mississippi Manufacturers Association Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MMA MEP) is the state’s NIST MEP affiliate, delivering hands-on technical assistance, continuous improvement, cybersecurity, and supply chain support to manufacturers across Mississippi. MMA MEP strengthens the competitiveness of Mississippi’s aerospace and defense suppliers—helping them meet DoW requirements like CMMC, improve operations, and win more federal contracts.

Website | LinkedIn

Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority

The Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority leads strategic redevelopment, site readiness, and economic growth initiatives in one of Mississippi’s most important industrial hubs—home to Ingalls Shipbuilding and a cornerstone of the state’s defense and maritime industry base. The Authority’s work keeps Pascagoula’s industrial assets investor-ready and integrated with statewide aerospace, defense, and technology strategy, sustaining one of the largest defense employment concentrations on the Gulf.

Website

Pearl River County Economic Development District (PRCEDD)

The Pearl River County Economic Development Authority (PRCEDA) drives industry recruitment, workforce initiatives, and site development in one of Mississippi’s fastest-growing counties, just north of Stennis Space Center. PRCEDA extends the Stennis innovation corridor northward—offering aerospace, defense, and technology investors a coordinated market with workforce, sites, and proximity to federal anchors.

Website

SBDC Mississippi

The Mississippi Small Business Development Center (SBDC Mississippi) network delivers expert consulting and training to small businesses across the state—covering business planning, access to capital, federal contracting, and growth strategy. SBDC Mississippi partners with MSET to match small business capacity-building with big-market opportunity that ensures aerospace, defense, and technology small businesses have the operational support they need to pursue federal opportunities across Mississippi’s R&D assets.

Website | LinkedIn

Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District (SMPDD)

The Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District (SMPDD) provides regional planning, workforce, transportation, and economic development services across 15 counties in South Mississippi. SMPDD is a foundational partner for project readiness in the Gulf Coast and Pine Belt—aligning regional infrastructure and workforce assets with the recruitment needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers.

Website

Academic/Research Partners

Academic/research partners supporting aerospace, defense, and technology growth in Mississippi.

Gulf Blue

Gulf Blue is Mississippi’s Blue Economy initiative led by the University of Southern Mississippi, supporting marine technology startups through programs like the Gulf Blue Navigator accelerator and a growing ocean-innovation network on the Gulf Coast. Gulf Blue connects ocean and maritime technology companies to federal assets at Stennis—including NOAA, NRL, and CNMOC—and integrates Mississippi’s Blue Economy into the state’s broader aerospace and defense innovation strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Defense Initiative The University of Southern Mississippi

The Mississippi Defense Initiative (MDI) at USM’s Trent Lott National Center positions the university and the state to better serve defense-related missions, partnerships, and workforce needs across the region. MDI builds the bridge between university capability and real-world industry and government demand—particularly around defense policy, supply chain resilience, and workforce priorities critical to Mississippi’s defense base.

Website

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) serves Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Stone, and George counties with technical, workforce, and community education programs spanning manufacturing, precision machining, avionics, and emerging technology trades. MGCCC’s training programs are tightly aligned with the talent needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers near Stennis and across the broader Gulf Coast industrial base.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Research Consortium

The Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC) represents the state’s four research universities—Ole Miss, MSU, USM, and Jackson State—giving Mississippi a coordinated bridge between academic R&D, specialized labs, and talent development. The MRC enables research collaborations, industry-university partnerships, and workforce development at scale across the state, aligning higher education capacity with government and industry demand.

Website

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University (MSU) is an R1 land-grant research university and MRC member with nationally recognized strengths in engineering, high-performance computing, autonomous systems, and advanced materials—all directly relevant to aerospace and defense. MSU’s research strengths feed Mississippi industry through commercialization, workforce development, and direct industry partnerships, connecting university capacity to the state’s growing aerospace and defense markets.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems

MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) is a nationally recognized research center focused on autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, computational engineering, and high-performance materials for the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. CAVS brings R&D capabilities—including digital engineering, additive manufacturing, and autonomy—into direct contact with aerospace and defense companies operating in Mississippi, turning specialized research strengths into industry-usable capability.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach

The MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach (the E-Center) provides founder support, student entrepreneurship programs, and commercialization services for the Mississippi State research community and regional startup ecosystem. The E-Center connects entrepreneurial talent and university-generated technology to aerospace, defense, and deep-tech pathways across Mississippi—pulling student founders and faculty IP into the state’s industrial economy.

Website | LinkedIn

Northern Gulf Institute

The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) is a NOAA Cooperative Institute led by MSU with partners at Ole Miss, USM, Louisiana State, Florida State, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab—advancing research in ecosystems, climate, coastal hazards, and geospatial intelligence. NGI links Mississippi’s oceanographic and geospatial research strengths directly to NOAA’s mission at Stennis and to the state’s aerospace, defense, and technology companies—turning federal science into Mississippi-based capability.

Website

Ole Miss Center for Air & Space Law

The Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi is a national leader in aviation, space, and remote-sensing law, offering a dedicated LL.M. program and thought leadership on regulatory issues shaping commercial space and UAS industries. The Center brings deep regulatory and policy expertise into Mississippi’s aerospace ecosystem, accelerating commercial space and UAS growth by giving in-state companies, policymakers, and stakeholders direct access to nationally recognized legal capacity.

Website | LinkedIn

Ole Miss Engineering

The University of Mississippi School of Engineering delivers applied engineering research and talent across aerospace-relevant disciplines—including mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer science, and geological engineering. The School equips Mississippi industry with engineering talent and applied research capacity, opening pathways for student internships, technical problem-solving, and university-led commercialization with in-state employers.

Website | LinkedIn

PRCC Workforce Education

Pearl River Community College (PRCC) Workforce Education delivers industry-aligned training, certifications, and apprenticeship programs across South Mississippi—serving employers in manufacturing, aerospace, construction, and advanced technology. PRCC’s training pipelines are tied directly to industry growth priorities and employer demand in the Stennis and Gulf Coast corridor, ensuring South Mississippi has the technical workforce its aerospace and defense employers need.

Website | LinkedIn

The University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is a Carnegie R1 research institution and a core member of the Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC), contributing faculty expertise, specialized labs, and talent pipelines across engineering, acoustics, data science, and law to the state’s innovation economy. Ole Miss research strengths—including the National Center for Physical Acoustics—translate into commercialization, applied research, and workforce pipelines that directly serve aerospace, defense, and technology industries across Mississippi.

Website | LinkedIn

The University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is an R1 research institution and MRC member with major capabilities in polymer science, marine and ocean sciences, high-performance materials, and defense-relevant research anchored by its coastal presence. USM brings applied research, defense-related capabilities, and workforce development directly to Gulf Coast industry and government partners across the Gulf Coast.

Website | LinkedIn

The University of Southern Mississippi Trent Lott National Center

The Trent Lott National Center at the University of Southern Mississippi convenes policy, national security, and economic development leaders to advance research, dialogue, and programs that shape the region’s future. The Center brings policy depth and convening power to Mississippi’s aerospace and defense sectors—linking national security conversations directly to state business development priorities.

Website

Industry/Association Partners

Industry/association partners supporting aerospace, defense, and technology growth in Mississippi.

Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM)

The Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) is Mississippi’s industry alliance for aerospace and defense companies, giving the sector a stronger collective platform for advocacy, visibility, and business development. ADAM represents Mississippi’s industry on policy, hosts the annual Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, and joins GCBC and Hancock County Port & Harbor in carrying Mississippi’s story to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. ADAM’s growth from 12 members in 2021 to more than 60 today reflects the strength of Mississippi’s industry voice—built in partnership with MSET, which used a DoW-funded ecosystem study to transform its former membership structure into ADAM and create durable industry infrastructure for the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Marine Technology Society

The Marine Technology Society (MTS) is an international professional society advancing ocean and marine technology, with strong participation from the Stennis and Gulf Coast marine science community through its local sections. MTS plugs Mississippi’s oceanographic, geospatial, and marine technology firms into national research communities and emerging commercial opportunities—reinforcing the state’s Blue Economy through a global professional network.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Power

Mississippi Power is the regional electric utility serving 23 counties in southeast Mississippi, providing critical energy infrastructure and economic development support for industrial site selection across the Coast and Pine Belt. The utility’s reliability, capacity, and site-selection expertise are foundational to Mississippi’s ability to attract and retain aerospace, defense, and technology employers—particularly large-load advanced manufacturing and data-intensive operations.

Website | LinkedIn

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Browse by Technology and Mission Area

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Advanced Manufacturing/Logistics+

Accelerate MS

Accelerate Mississippi is the state’s workforce development office, coordinating training, credentialing, and talent pipeline programs across industry, K-12, community colleges, and universities. Accelerate MS aligns workforce investment with the needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers—ensuring the state’s talent supply keeps pace with industry growth and high-wage job creation.

Website | LinkedIn

ERDCWERX

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Hancock Port Air Space

Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission operates Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport—critical logistics, rail, aerospace, and industrial assets located adjacent to NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Together with Stennis, those assets present the Gulf Coast as a coordinated innovation corridor with the infrastructure, runway access, and industrial sites that aerospace, defense, and maritime employers need.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) serves Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Stone, and George counties with technical, workforce, and community education programs spanning manufacturing, precision machining, avionics, and emerging technology trades. MGCCC’s training programs are tightly aligned with the talent needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers near Stennis and across the broader Gulf Coast industrial base.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Manufaturers Association-Manufacturing Extention Partnership (MMA MEP)

The Mississippi Manufacturers Association Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MMA MEP) is the state’s NIST MEP affiliate, delivering hands-on technical assistance, continuous improvement, cybersecurity, and supply chain support to manufacturers across Mississippi. MMA MEP strengthens the competitiveness of Mississippi’s aerospace and defense suppliers—helping them meet DoW requirements like CMMC, improve operations, and win more federal contracts.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Power

Mississippi Power is the regional electric utility serving 23 counties in southeast Mississippi, providing critical energy infrastructure and economic development support for industrial site selection across the Coast and Pine Belt. The utility’s reliability, capacity, and site-selection expertise are foundational to Mississippi’s ability to attract and retain aerospace, defense, and technology employers—particularly large-load advanced manufacturing and data-intensive operations.

Website | LinkedIn

Aerospace/Aviation+

Accelerate MS

Accelerate Mississippi is the state’s workforce development office, coordinating training, credentialing, and talent pipeline programs across industry, K-12, community colleges, and universities. Accelerate MS aligns workforce investment with the needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers—ensuring the state’s talent supply keeps pace with industry growth and high-wage job creation.

Website | LinkedIn

Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM)

The Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) is Mississippi’s industry alliance for aerospace and defense companies, giving the sector a stronger collective platform for advocacy, visibility, and business development. ADAM represents Mississippi’s industry on policy, hosts the annual Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, and joins GCBC and Hancock County Port & Harbor in carrying Mississippi’s story to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. ADAM’s growth from 12 members in 2021 to more than 60 today reflects the strength of Mississippi’s industry voice—built in partnership with MSET, which used a DoW-funded ecosystem study to transform its former membership structure into ADAM and create durable industry infrastructure for the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Coast Business Council

The Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) is the region’s leading business advocacy and economic development organization, shaping priorities and amplifying the Gulf Coast’s competitive strengths in workforce, infrastructure, and industry recruitment. MSET collaborates with GCBC to position Mississippi’s aerospace, defense, and technology story beyond state lines—ensuring Gulf Coast business leadership is connected to statewide growth strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Hancock Port Air Space

Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission operates Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport—critical logistics, rail, aerospace, and industrial assets located adjacent to NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Together with Stennis, those assets present the Gulf Coast as a coordinated innovation corridor with the infrastructure, runway access, and industrial sites that aerospace, defense, and maritime employers need.

Website | LinkedIn

Innovate Mississippi

Innovate Mississippi is the state’s nonprofit for supporting startups and growth-stage companies—running accelerator programs, mentoring networks, and capital access services across Mississippi. Innovate Mississippi gives aerospace, defense, and technology founders access to mentorship, early-stage capital, federal commercialization pathways, and state R&D assets through a single pipeline.

Website | LinkedIn

Louisiana Technology Transfer Office

The Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO) helps regional companies and entrepreneurs access and commercialize technology developed at federal labs, including NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility just across the state line from Stennis. LTTO is a regional peer that strengthens the cross-border aerospace and technology corridor anchored by Stennis, Michoud, and the Gulf Coast—expanding pathways for Mississippi companies pursuing federal technology transfer and dual-use partnerships.

Website | LinkedIn

AI/Cyber/Software+

Innovate Mississippi

Innovate Mississippi is the state’s nonprofit for supporting startups and growth-stage companies—running accelerator programs, mentoring networks, and capital access services across Mississippi. Innovate Mississippi gives aerospace, defense, and technology founders access to mentorship, early-stage capital, federal commercialization pathways, and state R&D assets through a single pipeline.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University (MSU) is an R1 land-grant research university and MRC member with nationally recognized strengths in engineering, high-performance computing, autonomous systems, and advanced materials—all directly relevant to aerospace and defense. MSU’s research strengths feed Mississippi industry through commercialization, workforce development, and direct industry partnerships, connecting university capacity to the state’s growing aerospace and defense markets.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach

The MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach (the E-Center) provides founder support, student entrepreneurship programs, and commercialization services for the Mississippi State research community and regional startup ecosystem. The E-Center connects entrepreneurial talent and university-generated technology to aerospace, defense, and deep-tech pathways across Mississippi—pulling student founders and faculty IP into the state’s industrial economy.

Website | LinkedIn

Ole Miss Engineering

The University of Mississippi School of Engineering delivers applied engineering research and talent across aerospace-relevant disciplines—including mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer science, and geological engineering. The School equips Mississippi industry with engineering talent and applied research capacity, opening pathways for student internships, technical problem-solving, and university-led commercialization with in-state employers.

Website | LinkedIn

The University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is a Carnegie R1 research institution and a core member of the Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC), contributing faculty expertise, specialized labs, and talent pipelines across engineering, acoustics, data science, and law to the state’s innovation economy. Ole Miss research strengths—including the National Center for Physical Acoustics—translate into commercialization, applied research, and workforce pipelines that directly serve aerospace, defense, and technology industries across Mississippi.

Website | LinkedIn

Autonomy/Robotics+

ERDCWERX

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University (MSU) is an R1 land-grant research university and MRC member with nationally recognized strengths in engineering, high-performance computing, autonomous systems, and advanced materials—all directly relevant to aerospace and defense. MSU’s research strengths feed Mississippi industry through commercialization, workforce development, and direct industry partnerships, connecting university capacity to the state’s growing aerospace and defense markets.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems

MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) is a nationally recognized research center focused on autonomous systems, advanced manufacturing, computational engineering, and high-performance materials for the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. CAVS brings R&D capabilities—including digital engineering, additive manufacturing, and autonomy—into direct contact with aerospace and defense companies operating in Mississippi, turning specialized research strengths into industry-usable capability.

Website | LinkedIn

Ole Miss Center for Air & Space Law

The Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi is a national leader in aviation, space, and remote-sensing law, offering a dedicated LL.M. program and thought leadership on regulatory issues shaping commercial space and UAS industries. The Center brings deep regulatory and policy expertise into Mississippi’s aerospace ecosystem, accelerating commercial space and UAS growth by giving in-state companies, policymakers, and stakeholders direct access to nationally recognized legal capacity.

Website | LinkedIn

Defense/Dual-Use+

Accelerate MS

Accelerate Mississippi is the state’s workforce development office, coordinating training, credentialing, and talent pipeline programs across industry, K-12, community colleges, and universities. Accelerate MS aligns workforce investment with the needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers—ensuring the state’s talent supply keeps pace with industry growth and high-wage job creation.

Website | LinkedIn

Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM)

The Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) is Mississippi’s industry alliance for aerospace and defense companies, giving the sector a stronger collective platform for advocacy, visibility, and business development. ADAM represents Mississippi’s industry on policy, hosts the annual Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, and joins GCBC and Hancock County Port & Harbor in carrying Mississippi’s story to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. ADAM’s growth from 12 members in 2021 to more than 60 today reflects the strength of Mississippi’s industry voice—built in partnership with MSET, which used a DoW-funded ecosystem study to transform its former membership structure into ADAM and create durable industry infrastructure for the state.

Website | LinkedIn

ERDCWERX

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

Website | LinkedIn

FLC

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is the nationwide network that facilitates the commercialization of research and technology developed at more than 300 federal labs and centers. FLC opens a clearer pathway for Mississippi companies, researchers, and universities to access federal IP and licensing pipelines—particularly those tied to Stennis-resident agencies and nearby ERDC capabilities.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Blue

Gulf Blue is Mississippi’s Blue Economy initiative led by the University of Southern Mississippi, supporting marine technology startups through programs like the Gulf Blue Navigator accelerator and a growing ocean-innovation network on the Gulf Coast. Gulf Blue connects ocean and maritime technology companies to federal assets at Stennis—including NOAA, NRL, and CNMOC—and integrates Mississippi’s Blue Economy into the state’s broader aerospace and defense innovation strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Coast Business Council

The Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) is the region’s leading business advocacy and economic development organization, shaping priorities and amplifying the Gulf Coast’s competitive strengths in workforce, infrastructure, and industry recruitment. MSET collaborates with GCBC to position Mississippi’s aerospace, defense, and technology story beyond state lines—ensuring Gulf Coast business leadership is connected to statewide growth strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Emerging (Quantum, Biomanufacturing, etc.)+

ERDCWERX

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Energy/Environmental+

ERDCWERX

ERDCWERX is a public-private innovation platform that extends the reach of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) by connecting its scientists and engineers with industry, academia, and startups to accelerate dual-use technology. As the link for direct access to ERDC’s world-class labs, ERDCWERX brings Mississippi companies and researchers a direct line to federal R&D capability that would otherwise be hard to access—translating government science into commercial and defense-ready solutions in the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Blue

Gulf Blue is Mississippi’s Blue Economy initiative led by the University of Southern Mississippi, supporting marine technology startups through programs like the Gulf Blue Navigator accelerator and a growing ocean-innovation network on the Gulf Coast. Gulf Blue connects ocean and maritime technology companies to federal assets at Stennis—including NOAA, NRL, and CNMOC—and integrates Mississippi’s Blue Economy into the state’s broader aerospace and defense innovation strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Power

Mississippi Power is the regional electric utility serving 23 counties in southeast Mississippi, providing critical energy infrastructure and economic development support for industrial site selection across the Coast and Pine Belt. The utility’s reliability, capacity, and site-selection expertise are foundational to Mississippi’s ability to attract and retain aerospace, defense, and technology employers—particularly large-load advanced manufacturing and data-intensive operations.

Website | LinkedIn

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) delivers weather, climate, ocean, and environmental intelligence that drives mission-critical work across maritime, defense, and aerospace sectors, with a deep operational presence at Stennis through the National Centers for Environmental Information and the National Data Buoy Center. NOAA’s Mississippi footprint anchors the state’s role in environmental intelligence and Blue Economy innovation—generating high-wage federal employment and creating procurement and partnership opportunities for the state’s oceanographic, geospatial, and technology firms.

Website | LinkedIn

Northern Gulf Institute

The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) is a NOAA Cooperative Institute led by MSU with partners at Ole Miss, USM, Louisiana State, Florida State, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab—advancing research in ecosystems, climate, coastal hazards, and geospatial intelligence. NGI links Mississippi’s oceanographic and geospatial research strengths directly to NOAA’s mission at Stennis and to the state’s aerospace, defense, and technology companies—turning federal science into Mississippi-based capability.

Website

Maritime/Ocean+

Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM)

The Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) is Mississippi’s industry alliance for aerospace and defense companies, giving the sector a stronger collective platform for advocacy, visibility, and business development. ADAM represents Mississippi’s industry on policy, hosts the annual Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, and joins GCBC and Hancock County Port & Harbor in carrying Mississippi’s story to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. ADAM’s growth from 12 members in 2021 to more than 60 today reflects the strength of Mississippi’s industry voice—built in partnership with MSET, which used a DoW-funded ecosystem study to transform its former membership structure into ADAM and create durable industry infrastructure for the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Blue

Gulf Blue is Mississippi’s Blue Economy initiative led by the University of Southern Mississippi, supporting marine technology startups through programs like the Gulf Blue Navigator accelerator and a growing ocean-innovation network on the Gulf Coast. Gulf Blue connects ocean and maritime technology companies to federal assets at Stennis—including NOAA, NRL, and CNMOC—and integrates Mississippi’s Blue Economy into the state’s broader aerospace and defense innovation strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Coast Business Council

The Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) is the region’s leading business advocacy and economic development organization, shaping priorities and amplifying the Gulf Coast’s competitive strengths in workforce, infrastructure, and industry recruitment. MSET collaborates with GCBC to position Mississippi’s aerospace, defense, and technology story beyond state lines—ensuring Gulf Coast business leadership is connected to statewide growth strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Hancock Port Air Space

Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission operates Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport—critical logistics, rail, aerospace, and industrial assets located adjacent to NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Together with Stennis, those assets present the Gulf Coast as a coordinated innovation corridor with the infrastructure, runway access, and industrial sites that aerospace, defense, and maritime employers need.

Website | LinkedIn

Marine Technology Society

The Marine Technology Society (MTS) is an international professional society advancing ocean and marine technology, with strong participation from the Stennis and Gulf Coast marine science community through its local sections. MTS plugs Mississippi’s oceanographic, geospatial, and marine technology firms into national research communities and emerging commercial opportunities—reinforcing the state’s Blue Economy through a global professional network.

Website | LinkedIn

Mississippi Research Consortium

The Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC) represents the state’s four research universities—Ole Miss, MSU, USM, and Jackson State—giving Mississippi a coordinated bridge between academic R&D, specialized labs, and talent development. The MRC enables research collaborations, industry-university partnerships, and workforce development at scale across the state, aligning higher education capacity with government and industry demand.

Website

Sensing/ISR+

Naval Air Systems Command

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is the Navy’s principal organization for acquiring, developing, testing, and sustaining naval aviation systems—from aircraft and weapons to training and engineering services. NAVAIR’s procurement, sustainment, and research pipelines are a direct fit for Mississippi’s existing aerospace and defense industrial base, opening contracting and partnership pathways for the state’s manufacturers, suppliers, and engineering firms.

Website | LinkedIn

Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command

The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC), headquartered at Stennis Space Center, delivers global ocean, weather, and geospatial intelligence that informs Navy operations and national defense decisions. CNMOC’s headquarters presence makes Mississippi a strategic hub for naval science—anchoring concentrations of high-wage technical talent and creating sustained demand for the state’s defense, geospatial, and technology companies.

Website | LinkedIn

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) delivers weather, climate, ocean, and environmental intelligence that drives mission-critical work across maritime, defense, and aerospace sectors, with a deep operational presence at Stennis through the National Centers for Environmental Information and the National Data Buoy Center. NOAA’s Mississippi footprint anchors the state’s role in environmental intelligence and Blue Economy innovation—generating high-wage federal employment and creating procurement and partnership opportunities for the state’s oceanographic, geospatial, and technology firms.

Website | LinkedIn

Northern Gulf Institute

The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) is a NOAA Cooperative Institute led by MSU with partners at Ole Miss, USM, Louisiana State, Florida State, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab—advancing research in ecosystems, climate, coastal hazards, and geospatial intelligence. NGI links Mississippi’s oceanographic and geospatial research strengths directly to NOAA’s mission at Stennis and to the state’s aerospace, defense, and technology companies—turning federal science into Mississippi-based capability.

Website

Ole Miss Engineering

The University of Mississippi School of Engineering delivers applied engineering research and talent across aerospace-relevant disciplines—including mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer science, and geological engineering. The School equips Mississippi industry with engineering talent and applied research capacity, opening pathways for student internships, technical problem-solving, and university-led commercialization with in-state employers.

Website | LinkedIn

The University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is a Carnegie R1 research institution and a core member of the Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC), contributing faculty expertise, specialized labs, and talent pipelines across engineering, acoustics, data science, and law to the state’s innovation economy. Ole Miss research strengths—including the National Center for Physical Acoustics—translate into commercialization, applied research, and workforce pipelines that directly serve aerospace, defense, and technology industries across Mississippi.

Website | LinkedIn

Shipbuilding+

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) serves Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Stone, and George counties with technical, workforce, and community education programs spanning manufacturing, precision machining, avionics, and emerging technology trades. MGCCC’s training programs are tightly aligned with the talent needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers near Stennis and across the broader Gulf Coast industrial base.

Website | LinkedIn

NAVSEA

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the Navy’s largest systems command, responsible for the design, engineering, sustainment, and procurement of the Navy’s ships, submarines, and combat systems. NAVSEA’s procurement and sustainment programs are a direct match for Mississippi’s Gulf Coast shipbuilding base—most prominently Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula—and a primary source of work for the state’s defense supply chain.

Website | LinkedIn

Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority

The Pascagoula Redevelopment Authority leads strategic redevelopment, site readiness, and economic growth initiatives in one of Mississippi’s most important industrial hubs—home to Ingalls Shipbuilding and a cornerstone of the state’s defense and maritime industry base. The Authority’s work keeps Pascagoula’s industrial assets investor-ready and integrated with statewide aerospace, defense, and technology strategy, sustaining one of the largest defense employment concentrations on the Gulf.

Website

Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District (SMPDD)

The Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District (SMPDD) provides regional planning, workforce, transportation, and economic development services across 15 counties in South Mississippi. SMPDD is a foundational partner for project readiness in the Gulf Coast and Pine Belt—aligning regional infrastructure and workforce assets with the recruitment needs of aerospace, defense, and technology employers.

Website

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the Navy’s corporate research lab and runs a broad program of scientific research and advanced technology development, with a major detachment at Stennis Space Center focused on oceanography and marine geosciences. NRL’s Stennis presence brings world-class naval R&D into Mississippi’s backyard—creating commercialization opportunities, defense applications, and high-skill research positions that pull talent and investment into the state.

Website | LinkedIn

Space/Propulsion+

Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM)

The Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) is Mississippi’s industry alliance for aerospace and defense companies, giving the sector a stronger collective platform for advocacy, visibility, and business development. ADAM represents Mississippi’s industry on policy, hosts the annual Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Symposium, and joins GCBC and Hancock County Port & Harbor in carrying Mississippi’s story to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. ADAM’s growth from 12 members in 2021 to more than 60 today reflects the strength of Mississippi’s industry voice—built in partnership with MSET, which used a DoW-funded ecosystem study to transform its former membership structure into ADAM and create durable industry infrastructure for the state.

Website | LinkedIn

FLC

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) is the nationwide network that facilitates the commercialization of research and technology developed at more than 300 federal labs and centers. FLC opens a clearer pathway for Mississippi companies, researchers, and universities to access federal IP and licensing pipelines—particularly those tied to Stennis-resident agencies and nearby ERDC capabilities.

Website | LinkedIn

Gulf Coast Business Council

The Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) is the region’s leading business advocacy and economic development organization, shaping priorities and amplifying the Gulf Coast’s competitive strengths in workforce, infrastructure, and industry recruitment. MSET collaborates with GCBC to position Mississippi’s aerospace, defense, and technology story beyond state lines—ensuring Gulf Coast business leadership is connected to statewide growth strategy.

Website | LinkedIn

Hancock Port Air Space

Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission operates Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport—critical logistics, rail, aerospace, and industrial assets located adjacent to NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Together with Stennis, those assets present the Gulf Coast as a coordinated innovation corridor with the infrastructure, runway access, and industrial sites that aerospace, defense, and maritime employers need.

Website | LinkedIn

Innovate Mississippi

Innovate Mississippi is the state’s nonprofit for supporting startups and growth-stage companies—running accelerator programs, mentoring networks, and capital access services across Mississippi. Innovate Mississippi gives aerospace, defense, and technology founders access to mentorship, early-stage capital, federal commercialization pathways, and state R&D assets through a single pipeline.

Website | LinkedIn

Louisiana Technology Transfer Office

The Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO) helps regional companies and entrepreneurs access and commercialize technology developed at federal labs, including NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility just across the state line from Stennis. LTTO is a regional peer that strengthens the cross-border aerospace and technology corridor anchored by Stennis, Michoud, and the Gulf Coast—expanding pathways for Mississippi companies pursuing federal technology transfer and dual-use partnerships.

Website | LinkedIn

Business Resources

Find additional help for your business with the links below.

SAM.gov

• Register your entity or get a Unique Entity ID to get started doing business with the federal government.

Dun & Bradstreet

• Solutions that help you grow revenue, manage risk & compliance, drive efficiencies and improve communities – backed by the power of the Dun & Bradstreet Data Cloud.

North American Industry Classification Codes (NAICS)

• NAICS Association, LLC offers an array of highly reliable and valuable resources to assist companies in determining all things pertaining to NAICS and SIC Codes.

Small Business Innovation Research

• The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization.

Mississippi Department of Employment Services

• Helpful online tools and services to help your business grow, along with guidance on complying with the Mississippi unemployment insurance law.

Mississippi Secretary of State

• The Business Services Division processes the formation of Mississippi corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other business and non-profit entities.