More than microchips: Arizona’s blueprint for building a high-tech workforce

In a recent New York Times editorial, the paper’s board sharply criticizes President Trump’s approach to U.S. military policy, alliances, and defense spending. The editorial argues that his strategy has weakened long-standing security commitments, eroded confidence in traditional alliances, and shifted focus away from collective defense toward unilateral actions and transactional relationships. It contends that key aspects of global security, including support for Ukraine and cohesion within NATO, have been undermined by inconsistent policy choices and an overreliance on high-profile military gestures rather than sustained strategic leadership.

GE Aerospace plans to invest another $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing sites and supplier base during to help accelerate engine deliveries and ramp production of parts that safely extend time between maintenance shop visits, and strengthen defense production to keep pace with military demand.

GlobalFoundries and RPI have deepened their long-standing partnership to strengthen semiconductor research, education, and workforce development. The agreement includes new faculty positions, support for a Semiconductor Scholars Program, and expanded collaboration to help build up the pipeline of talent needed for advanced manufacturing.

DoD ManTech and its associated Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) held events across the country as part of “Manufacturing Month.” These events aimed to connect industry, educators, students, and workforce stakeholders — highlighting advanced manufacturing technology and potential career paths in defense manufacturing.

A recent Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast features Bryan Wright, national manufacturing sector leader at Forvis Mazars, sharing insights from a new survey that shows strong optimism among manufacturing executives for growth in 2026 despite ongoing pressures like supplier cost increases and tariffs. Wright discusses how manufacturers are prioritizing strategies they can control, such as pricing, customer and product expansion, operational efficiency, and targeted technology investments like modern ERP systems. He also highlights the growing role of AI and automation, how talent challenges are being approached, and why resilient M&A activity, especially add-on deals, could strengthen in the year ahead.

NLM Photonics, a leader in silicon organic hybrid (SOH) electro-optic technology, announced today that its patented SOH photonic chips, featuring Selerion-HTX™ and JRD1, have successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-21) mission aboard the JAXA’s HTV-XI spacecraft launched on October 29, 2025.