Utah Governor Spencer Cox and former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller participated in the launch of the Integrated Warfighter Ecosystem (IWE) in Payson, Utah, according to an August 21 statement. The IWE is a coalition of approximately 150 predominantly small to midsized American companies, many of which are veteran-owned, that aims to close capability gaps and bridge the defense industrial base's 'Valley of Death.'
The launch event took place at the new 55,000-square-foot global headquarters for CenCore, a Utah-based company that serves as the founder and integrator of the IWE. CenCore acts as the orchestrator for the ecosystem, creating a pathway that connects industry capability, government demand, and mission need toward field readiness.
Approximately 80 percent of IWE members are small, non-traditional businesses. These members possess capabilities in areas including autonomy, communications, command and control, counter-UAS, edge AI, ISR, power, and manufacturing. The ecosystem seeks to create a nationwide network of aligned U.S. companies that can deliver at scale and at the tactical edge by opening participation in the defense industrial base beyond traditional primes.
Governor Spencer Cox stated that the launch of the IWE reflects Utah's leadership in bringing together innovators, manufacturers, veterans, and national security partners to solve difficult challenges.
Adam Fife, CEO of CenCore, said the IWE is built to provide the connective tissue between industry, government demand, and mission need. CenCore, which was founded in 2010, employs approximately 1,700 people across 27 sites nationwide.
