Ft Wayne Times

Rep. Jim Banks, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, hosted his third and final Northeast Indiana Defense Summit on Wednesday. This event marked the culmination of his tenure as the Congressman from northeast Indiana.

Rep. Banks stated, "I am proud to be the first ever representative from northeast Indiana to sit on the House Armed Services Committee, and those eight years of service have been the high point of my congressional career. Our region’s defense industry has been a huge boon to Hoosier workers and to our national security."

He added, "The success of this year’s summit further proves that northeast Indiana is a natural home for the defense industry. Our business climate, workforce, and location at the crossroads of America will continue to attract investment from around the nation. I am confident that in the years to come northeast Indiana will play an even larger role in our national defense and competition with Communist China."

The summit featured participation from industry and military leaders including representatives from the Defense Innovation Unit, AM General, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, L3Harris Technologies, Raytheon Technologies, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, and Ultra Maritime.

Keynote speakers at the event included:

- Joe Lonsdale, Managing Partner at 8VC

- Chris Kubasik, CEO of L3Harris Technologies

- LTC Nick Estep, Director for Emerging Technologies at Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

- Delian Asparouhov, Co-Founder of Varda Space Industries

- Sam Gray, Emeritus at Silicon Valley Defense Group

- Dr. Mung Chiang, President of Purdue University

- Dr. Ronald Elsenbaumer, Chancellor of Purdue University Fort Wayne

- John Keast, Staff Director at Senate Armed Services Committee