NCDMM partners with Kent State University to establish DEDC Space@Kent
By Eartha Hopkins, Content Coordinator
KENT, OH – As advanced technology continues to drive manufacturing innovation, the Department of Defense (DoD) is boosting its digital engineering (DE) capabilities to strengthen the defense industrial base (DIB). A key focus is integrating digital twin technology, which improves product quality, reduces costs, expedites lead times, and increases customization. This process enhances traceability, supports early testing, ensures rigorous validation, facilitates model reuse, and strengthens stakeholder communication in complex component production.
Digital twin technology creates a real-time virtual model of a physical object, process, or system. This model is continuously updated through data connections, enabling optimized performance and insights. Its ability to enable rapid prototyping, complex system design, surge capacity during conflicts, and low-cost weapon systems highlights the DoD’s drive for widespread implementation. However, education and workforce development (EWD) gaps among high- and middle-skilled workers, as well as small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in resource-constrained communities, pose significant challenges to progress. Nevertheless, the lack of knowledge about digital transformation is not limited to SMMs; it extends across government, industry, and even higher education. Ultimately, digital transformation is fundamentally a cultural shift.
Given DE’s immense potential to augment manufacturing capabilities and to fully exploit the technology, industry-wide collaboration is essential. In response, the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) partnered with Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering (CAE), Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), and the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) to establish Kent State’s Digital Engineering and Design Center for Space Applications (DEDC Space@Kent). This initiative, funded through DoD’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program and led by its Innovation Capability and Modernization Office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, aims to create an integrated DE environment that boosts the capabilities of SMMs and develops a robust digital engineering talent infrastructure, ultimately fortifying the DIB and enhancing U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
“There is an EWD element to this initiative, but it’s also about elevating the capabilities of regional manufacturers in resource-constrained communities, promoting the adoption of technology, and leveraging expertise from across the U.S. There is also the DoD mission to advance these manufacturers to a point where they can enter and support the DIB,” said Jamie White, Senior Director at NCDMM.
Building EWD infrastructure across digital engineering
The swift transition to DE poses significant challenges for educational institutions seeking to adapt. Dr. Joycelyn Harrison, Associate Dean at the College of Aeronautics and Engineering, noted, “Lifecycle digital engineering and system design from concept to retirement are not traditionally included in engineering curricula.” Moreover, the manufacturing sector faces an estimated workforce shortage of 4.6M job vacancies by 2028, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. As such, it is crucial for government, academia, and industry to collaborate on developing innovative educational and training methods to address workforce acquisition and retention, thereby fostering the growth of regional manufacturing clusters.
The DEDC Space@Kent will play a pivotal role as one of the first centers of its kind, offering undergraduates practical skills through year-long internships in DE. Students will gain hands-on experience in designing, developing, testing, and implementing aerospace systems with a focus on cybersecurity, aligned with systems engineering principles from the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory Cyber-Informed Engineering initiative.
“We are strategically located in a region with strong congressional support, eager to see Ohio students trained in the latest, most in-demand areas. Also, we have companies, the military, NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and other entities in our region,” explained Dr. Harrison. “Thinking long-term, the region will benefit as we engage with both large and small component developers in aerospace technology. Many smaller companies lack the necessary cybersecurity infrastructure required by the DoD for integration into larger systems. Our initiative will help these companies enhance their cybersecurity capabilities.”
Although still in its early stages, the program has provided valuable career development skills for students, including Christopher Shaffer, a senior in Aerospace Engineering at Kent State.
“Participating in this program has illuminated the various steps involved in the full digital engineering process,” said Shaffer. “I was unaware of its many components when I embarked on my engineering studies four years ago. Unlike my traditional engineering courses, this program emphasizes collaboration over individual assignments, allowing me to engage in hands-on experiences.”
In conjunction with educational strategies, the project engages with industry to provide mutual benefits for regional businesses by building a robust workforce and creating pathways to careers in the manufacturing ecosystem. Through YBI—a business incubator supporting SMMs to adopt advanced technologies, located in Youngstown, OH, manufacturers receive assistance in adopting DE technologies to enhance operational efficiency and market competitiveness. As part of the initiative, YBI conducted assessments and walkthroughs to evaluate selected SMMs’ current practices, strengths, and areas for improvement, ultimately aiming to implement new efficiencies in collaboration with MAGNET, an organization providing consultation for SMMs across business and talent development.
“We assessed their processes to identify effective practices and areas for improvement. Then, we present tailored solutions and connect them with appropriate solution providers to support project goals,” said Daniel Longo, Engineering Program Manager at YBI.
Strengthening the DIB and U.S. manufacturing competitiveness
The U.S.’s economic vitality and national security heavily depend on a robust manufacturing sector, with SMMs comprising 98.5% of all domestic producers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To enhance national defense readiness, integrating advanced manufacturing technologies within local manufacturing communities is crucial for leveraging flexible and distributed capabilities.
NCDMM’s DEDC Space@Kent initiative addresses existing challenges while laying the foundation for valuable insights and actions. It aims to guide the broader sector and uncover key opportunities for deeper analysis. The ultimate objective is to establish a comprehensive DE workforce infrastructure, supply chain, and EWD strategies that drive local economic growth and enhance national security.
To learn more about DEDC Space@Kent, visit: kent.edu.