| National Defense Industrial Association | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NDIA |
| Motto | Strength through Industry and Technology |
| Formation | 1919 |
| Type | Voluntary association |
| Purpose/focus | Promote US national security |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia |
| Location | United States |
| Region served | United States |
| Membership | Corporate, Individual and Life |
| President | Lawrence P. Farrell Jr. |
| Affiliations | Association For Enterprise Integration (AFEI) National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) Precision Strike Association (PSA) Women in Defense (WID) |
| Staff | 75 |
| Website | www.ndia.org |
The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is an association for the United States government and the defense industry.[1][2][3] Based in Arlington, Virginia, NDIA was established in 1919 as a result of the inability of the defense industry to scale up the war effort during World War I. It connects government officials, military and industry professionals, and organizations that represent the branches of the armed forces, homeland security, and first responders. The NDIA publishes a magazine, the National Defense, and holds over 80 symposia a year.
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The National Defense Industrial Association was established in 1919 as the Army Ordnance Association (AOA). Much of the military hardware used during the war was European-made with very little American production. At the end of the war, changes in the power structures across the world such as the rise in communism in Russia, and right-wing politics in Europe led to the United States establish a indigenous military policy. The AOA was established in 1919 to link the defense industry and US military. After the end of World War II, the AOA played a major role in preventing the US military from scaling down defense manufacturing, by its successfully lobbing.[4]
In 1997, the National Security Industrial Association (NSIA) merged with the American Defense Preparedness Association (ADPA), which formed after World War II to lobby for continued high levels of defence spending,[5] and the new organization was renamed the National Defense Industrial Association.
The group has approximately 1,500 corporate members and over 45,000 individual and government members. Affiliated members include the Association for Enterprise Information (AFEI), the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA), the Precision Strike Association (PSA), and Women in Defense (WID). It connects government officials, military and industry professionals, and organizations that represent the branches of the armed forces, homeland security, and first responders. It has divisions and working groups covering several niche areas. Its members often use the organization to forge business contacts through networking and participating in national and local events.
Logistics, policy, combat, and acquisition form the base for most symposia, over 80 are held annually. Defense professionals from the private industry, government, military and first responders from the public and private sectors attend these programs for information from subject matter experts and to make contacts in industry and government. About 25 exhibitions each year include defense-related industry and government exhibits. These events and exhibitions are designed to facilitate information sharing and networking opportunities.
The association publishes a magazine, the National Defense. Recently, they created a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Division, promoting educational opportunities for youth to ensure a skilled technical work force, and developing cutting-edge manufacturing techniques to support the military industry.[4]
The Technical Information Division has responsibility for the NDIA configuration and data management (CDM) professional certification program. This includes preparation training for certification, the administration of examinations, and the award of certifications. NDIA has established two CDM certification levels: Certified Configuration and Data Manager (CCDM,) and Certified Configuration and Data Specialist (CCDS).
As of 2009[update], NDIA has 52 chapters across the United States.[6]
NDIA consists of 32 Divisions and seven Industrial Working Groups that aims to promote defense through access, influence and education.[7]
| Divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Armaments | Ballistics | Bomb & Warhead | Chemical Biological Defense |
| Combat Survivability | Combat Vehicles | Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Surveillance, Intelligence and Reconnaissance | Environment and Energy |
| Expeditionary Warfare | Government Policy Advisory | Health Affairs | Homeland Security |
| International | Legislative Information | Logistics | Manufacturing |
| Missile Defense | Munitions Technology | Procurement | Robotics |
| Science and Engineering Technology | Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce | Small Business | Space |
| Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict | Strike, Land Attack, and Air Defense | Systems Engineering | Tactical Wheeled Vehicles |
| Targets, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, & Systems Range Operations | Technical Information | Test and Evaluation | Undersea Warfare |