DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Feb 18, 2012
The N.C. Motorsports Industry and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) today announced a strategic partnership to grow North Carolina’s defense and homeland security economy and increase soldier safety and capabiilty. The historic collaboration was announced by N. C. Gov. Bev Perdue; Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, Jr., Commanding General, USASOC; and NASCAR President Mike Helton during the opening weekend of Daytona Speedweeks.
The formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) – facilitated by the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Military Foundation, the N.C. Motorsports Advisory Council and USASOC Mobility – will allow the nation’s most respected motorsports companies and the world’s premier special operations force to mutually benefit through shared capabilities, knowledge, requirements, expertise, and training specific to vehicle performance.
“The motorsports industry and Special Ops have forged a historic partnership that is unique to North Carolina,” said Gov. Perdue. ”This partnership will have worldwide implications. It improves safety and performance of military vehicles for our troops and creates jobs and investment opportunities in North Carolina.”
Since leading North Carolina through the successful 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) process, Gov. Perdue directed the state’s key economic developers to be innovative and to explore the emerging needs of the military and how N.C. businesses, industry and academia can best serve those needs.
Lt. General Mulholland explained that Special Operations Forces are “constantly seeking innovative methods to make our operators more effective, and the amazing technologies developed by N.C. motorsports companies have direct applications to the many complex problems we face.”
“Army special operators are expected to thrive and succeed in the most challenging environments against dynamic threats,” he continued. “Likewise, the people who work at this level of the motorsports industry are constantly seeking to improve their performance – to dominate the competition – under the most extreme conditions. Ultimately, this is an opportunity for each institution to better serve our nation.”
Increased interaction between N.C.’s motorsports industry and Army Special Operations Forces highlighting dual-use technologies increased significantly following the release of the N.C. Military Foundation’s Defense Asset Inventory and Target Industry Cluster Analysis. This forward looking analysis, assembled with expert support from the N.C. Department of Commerce, pinpoints where the state’s strengths in industry, academia and R&D coincide with the emerging needs of the military and homeland security.
“The value of the Foundation’s analysis is in its clarity: for the first time, economic developers and industry were able to grasp the needs of today’s military, especially its Special Operations Forces. In the same vein, key military decision-makers quickly learned about the depth of the N.C. motorsports industry. Finally, it cannot be understated how critical the support of the Governor and our Congressional delegation has been for this initiative. Governor Perdue has made building the partnership a top priority for her administration and Senator Kay Hagan has led efforts in Washington and has been a tireless advocate of the initiative. She will be a critical partner as we go forward,” said Lance DeSpain, executive director of the Foundation.
In addition to improved vehicle performance for both military and motorsports, there will be increased economic opportunities for North Carolina’s defense and motorsports industries. Combined, the motorsports and defense sectors have close to a $30 billion economic impact in the state.
“The parallels between Special Operations Forces and the motorsports industry are many and varied. The operations of both are a team effort and require 100% from the entire team for success. Fitness, knowledge, training and the best equipment available are mandatory for their safety and performance, said Karen Ray, representing both the N.C. Motorsports Industry and the N.C. Motorsports Advisory Council. “Dominance in the field or on the track is the desired outcome. Sharing of expertise and capabilities with U.S. Special Operations Forces is an opportunity to appreciate, while at the same time generating revenues and work for North Carolina businesses. This public/private partnership is a win/win for North Carolina between two groups that are in-it to win-it.”
In order to fulfill the joint objective to provide a “unity of effort” approach to supporting the U.S. National Security objectives, the MOA encourages a wide range of scope and a focus “without limitation.”
The formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) – facilitated by the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Military Foundation, the N.C. Motorsports Advisory Council and USASOC Mobility – will allow the nation’s most respected motorsports companies and the world’s premier special operations force to mutually benefit through shared capabilities, knowledge, requirements, expertise, and training specific to vehicle performance.
“The motorsports industry and Special Ops have forged a historic partnership that is unique to North Carolina,” said Gov. Perdue. ”This partnership will have worldwide implications. It improves safety and performance of military vehicles for our troops and creates jobs and investment opportunities in North Carolina.”
Since leading North Carolina through the successful 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) process, Gov. Perdue directed the state’s key economic developers to be innovative and to explore the emerging needs of the military and how N.C. businesses, industry and academia can best serve those needs.
Lt. General Mulholland explained that Special Operations Forces are “constantly seeking innovative methods to make our operators more effective, and the amazing technologies developed by N.C. motorsports companies have direct applications to the many complex problems we face.”
“Army special operators are expected to thrive and succeed in the most challenging environments against dynamic threats,” he continued. “Likewise, the people who work at this level of the motorsports industry are constantly seeking to improve their performance – to dominate the competition – under the most extreme conditions. Ultimately, this is an opportunity for each institution to better serve our nation.”
Increased interaction between N.C.’s motorsports industry and Army Special Operations Forces highlighting dual-use technologies increased significantly following the release of the N.C. Military Foundation’s Defense Asset Inventory and Target Industry Cluster Analysis. This forward looking analysis, assembled with expert support from the N.C. Department of Commerce, pinpoints where the state’s strengths in industry, academia and R&D coincide with the emerging needs of the military and homeland security.
“The value of the Foundation’s analysis is in its clarity: for the first time, economic developers and industry were able to grasp the needs of today’s military, especially its Special Operations Forces. In the same vein, key military decision-makers quickly learned about the depth of the N.C. motorsports industry. Finally, it cannot be understated how critical the support of the Governor and our Congressional delegation has been for this initiative. Governor Perdue has made building the partnership a top priority for her administration and Senator Kay Hagan has led efforts in Washington and has been a tireless advocate of the initiative. She will be a critical partner as we go forward,” said Lance DeSpain, executive director of the Foundation.
In addition to improved vehicle performance for both military and motorsports, there will be increased economic opportunities for North Carolina’s defense and motorsports industries. Combined, the motorsports and defense sectors have close to a $30 billion economic impact in the state.
“The parallels between Special Operations Forces and the motorsports industry are many and varied. The operations of both are a team effort and require 100% from the entire team for success. Fitness, knowledge, training and the best equipment available are mandatory for their safety and performance, said Karen Ray, representing both the N.C. Motorsports Industry and the N.C. Motorsports Advisory Council. “Dominance in the field or on the track is the desired outcome. Sharing of expertise and capabilities with U.S. Special Operations Forces is an opportunity to appreciate, while at the same time generating revenues and work for North Carolina businesses. This public/private partnership is a win/win for North Carolina between two groups that are in-it to win-it.”
In order to fulfill the joint objective to provide a “unity of effort” approach to supporting the U.S. National Security objectives, the MOA encourages a wide range of scope and a focus “without limitation.”