Massachusetts is proud to stand at the forefront of national defense innovation, and we are excited to announce that the APEX Accelerator Program has been awarded to MassMEP. This achievement highlights the strength, resilience, and innovation within Massachusetts’ defense ecosystem—and underscores the importance of maintaining a stable and secure supply chain. All ofwhich are core strengths of MassMEP.
The APEX award is not only a recognition of past accomplishments but also a call to action. Massachusetts will continue to build a resilient, technologically advanced, and highly skilled defense supply chain. MassMEP stands ready to support manufacturers as they strengthen their operations, expand their workforce, and secure their place in the nation’s defense future.
The DIB has lost >40% of small business suppliers in the last decade, even though ~71% of companies doing business with DoD are small businesses.(5) New England’s submarine programs (Virginia/Columbia class and AUKUS capacity ramp) require rapid supplier expansion and performance improvement; Massachusetts already counts ~250 submarine supply chain companies with ~$1.44B in awards over the last five years.(6)
Massachusetts is well-positioned to pilot a scalable, national APEX–MEP integration model given: a dense advanced-manufacturing base; proximity to primes/Electric Boat; and MassMEP’s documented economic impacts and statewide supplier-scouting network.
MassMEP is honored to launch this program on Sept. 29, 2025.
Massachusetts Defense Industry: By the Numbers
· Direct Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Employment: ~41,132 jobs (2023) (1)
· Supply-Chain Employment: ~20,351 jobs, plus an additional ~20,780 in extended supply roles (2023) (1)
· Average A&D Wage: ~$124,138 annually in Massachusetts (2023) (1)
· Economic Output (Sales) of MA A&D Sector: ~$15.945 billion (2023)(1)
· Massachusetts A&D GDP Contribution: ~$7.929 billion in 2023 (~1.08% of state GDP)(1)
· Wages Paid to A&D Employees: ~$5.106 billion (2023)(1)
· DoD/DHS Prime Contract Awards in Massachusetts: ~$16B (2022), ~$28.5B (2021), ~$25.1B (2020) (2)
· Defense Spending by County (FY2023): Middlesex (~$7.3B), Essex, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties all receiving multi-billion awards (3)
Implications for APEX Expectations
1. Workforce Needs With more than 41,000 direct A&D jobs and another 40,000+ in supplier/extended roles,
Massachusetts’ defense economy is people-intensive. Workforce attrition and advanced skill demands (cybersecurity, robotics, automation) make training pipelines essential.
2. Technology & Compliance High wages (~$124K average) reflect the technical rigor of Massachusetts defense work. To remain competitive, firms must adopt Industry 4.0 practices—digital supply chain tools, automation, and cybersecurity compliance (NIST 800-171, CMMC).
3. Supply Chain Resilience With billions in contracts flowing annually, small disruptions can ripple across the system. Diversification of suppliers, cybersecurity maturity, and logistics planning are central APEX priorities.
4. Economic Impact The A&D sector’s ~$15.9B in sales, ~$7.9B GDP contribution, and ~$5.1B in wages demonstrate that this sector sustains Massachusetts communities and fiscal health far beyond defense bases.
MassMEP’s Role in Delivering on APEX
· Technology Services: Supporting Industry 4.0 adoption, process control, and digital traceability.
· Cybersecurity Readiness: Helping firms meet CMMC/NIST compliance to compete for contracts.
· Workforce Development: Customized training in precision machining, robotics, digital manufacturing, leadership.
· Supply Chain Optimization: Mapping vulnerabilities, building redundancy, and preparing firms to scale.
Resource Points
For readers seeking more detail:
(1) AIA Aerospace – Massachusetts State Data
(2) SENEDIA – Massachusetts Defense Cluster Report
(3) DoD Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation – FY2023 Massachusetts Report
(4) UMass Donahue Institute – Economic Contributions of Massachusetts Defense Industry