Inaugural Grouping Includes Respected Leaders O’Brien, Whittier, Slavonic, and Levy
Chickasha, Oklahoma – The Knudsen Institute, a new non-profit organization focused on growing our nation’s defense industrial base of small manufacturers, has announced the formation of its National Advisory Board of defense industry luminaries. This board, for the Knudsen Institute for Applied Research on Surge Theory, will assist in the development of programs and the promotion of the Institute’s work around the country and abroad.
Today’s announcement includes the inaugural members of the board. They include former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, Fairbanks Morse Defense CEO George Whittier, Rear Admiral (ret.) Greg Slavonic, and Major General (ret.) Lee Levy (complete list below). O’Brien will serve as Chairman and Whittier will serve as Vice Chairman.
The Knudsen Institute was chartered in 2023 to address the alarming reduction of the total number of companies operating in the defense space. Over the past decade, that reduction is more than 40% – reducing the surge capacity and potential for innovation of the defense industrial base. The Knudsen Institute seeks to change this trajectory through a combination of policy efforts, workforce development programs, and emerging technology applications with the goal of reducing the barriers the nation’s backbone of small and medium sized manufacturers (SMMs) face when trying to support the nation’s warfighters.
“Starting before World War II, it has been the strength of our nation’s small manufacturers that have allowed the United States to defend freedom across the globe.” Stated the Advisory Board’s Chairman, former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. “We must evoke the spirit of the organization’s namesake, William S. Knudsen, to ensure these small manufacturers re-engage into the defense industrial base as quickly as possible as our country returns to a global environment of near-pear competition from Chinese and Russian threats.” O’Brien added.
Founder and CEO of the Institute Michael Morford stated, “We are excited about how much our mission and our message resonates with leaders in the U.S. who remain focused on our nation’s defense industrial base of small and medium sized manufacturers. Having true American leaders such as Ambassador O’Brien, Mr. Whittier, General Levy, and Rear Admiral Slavonic be eager to lend their voice and support to Knudsen speaks to the critical need for our mission and our efforts.” Morford added, “We will continue to proactively work with thought leaders from industry, government, academia, the military, and the small manufacturers to ensure we build upon the momentum we have already created in our inaugural year.”
New Members of the National Advisory Board
Affiliations below are given for identification, and do not necessarily represent the endorsement of the respective organizations.
- Robert O’Brien, former National Security Advisor (Chairman)
- George Whittier, CEO, Fairbanks Morse Defense (Vice Chairman)
- Greg Slavonic, USN RADM (ret.)
- Lee Levy, USAF Major General (ret.)
- Jamie Goettler, Senior Director, MSC Industrial Supply
- Michael Farmer, global supply chain subject matter expert
- Brian Frascella, General Manager, Moog Industrial Controls Division
- Terry Dunmire, Founding Partner, Eeon Ventures
About the Knudsen Institute
The Knudsen Institute for Applied Research on Surge Theory is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The Institute seeks to enable the surge capacity of the U.S. defense industrial base in support of our nation’s warfighters by identifying and integrating small and medium sized manufacturers at scale through an integrated approach of emerging technology, workforce, and policy solutions.