Georgia is home to a stellar defense industry supported by top defense contractors and a strong military presence.
Defense Contractors
Nine of the top ten defense contractors in the U.S. have operations in Georgia, including Lockheed Martin, the Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics (Gulfstream), Raytheon, BAE Systems, United Technologies (Pratt & Whitney), L-3 Communications, and SAIC. Other notable defense companies with operations in Georgia include Heckler & Koch, Glock, and Daniel Defense.
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Between 2000 and 2009, the value of defense contracts in Georgia grew by 94.1 percent from $3.63 billion in FY00 to more than $7 billion in FY09. Georgia currently ranks 15th in the U.S. for Department of Defense (DoD) contract dollars obligated.
The Air Force and the Army award the largest value of contracts to Georgia companies. Together with the Navy, these three agencies awarded 92.6 percent of all defense contracts in Georgia in FY08.
Defense Contracts by Industry
Aircraft manufacturing had the highest value of defense contract dollars awarded in Georgia, with more than $2.12 billion in FY08. More than 90 percent of these awards went to Lockheed Martin’s operation in Marietta, where work is being done on the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, the F-35, the C-130J, the modernization of the C-5, and the re-winging and upgrading of the P-3 Orion. Contracts for construction also represented a large percentage of DoD spending in Georgia. Almost half of the defense dollars spent on construction went toward the expansion of Fort Benning. Most of the top 10 industries in Georgia for defense contracts are involved in high-tech manufacturing, research or engineering. Combined, these 10 industries make up 69.9 percent of all defense contract dollars awarded in Georgia.
Top 10 Industries Awarded DoD Contracts in Georgia, FY08
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
$2,124,735,303 |
| Commercial and Institutional Building Construction |
$1,203,761,474 |
| Engineering Services |
$431,767,314 |
| Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing |
$431,543,885 |
| Facilities Support Services |
$353,940,223 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
$259,129,348 |
| Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services |
$141,779,746 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences |
$87,086,866 |
| Computer and Office Machine Repair and Maintenance |
$80,716,691 |
| Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing |
$77,387,367 |
Source: Federal Procurement Data System – Next Generation (www.fpds.gov)
Statewide Impact of Defense Contracts
Although the largest amount of defense contracts went to Cobb County since it is home to Lockheed Martin’s largest operation in the state, DoD contract spending is spread to many other counties and vendors around the state. See graph of the top 10 counties for Defense spending. (PDF)
Military Presence
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Georgia ranks fifth in the U.S. for total Department of Defense military, civilian direct-hire, reserve and national guard employment, with 141,966 people in FY08. Total military personnel in Georgia has grown by 6.2 percent between 2000 and 2008.
Half of Georgia’s military personnel are active duty military, while the other two quarters are civilian direct-hire and Reserve and National Guard. The Army employs 65 percent of Georgia’s military personnel, while the Air Force employs 23 percent, the Navy and Marine Corps employ 10 percent and other defense activities employ two percent.
The Army’s main locations within the state include Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart, and Fort McPherson. Due to the 2005 BRAC realignment, Fort Benning is undergoing a $3.5 million expansion to create the Maneuver Center of Excellence, which will unite Fort Benning's Infantry Center with the Armor Center and School from Fort Knox, Kentucky by September 2011. Meanwhile, Fort McPherson will close and Fort Gillem will be reduced to a military enclave. The Air Force’s two main bases in the state include Robins Air Force Base and Moody Air Force Base (see more info on Robins AFB below). The Navy’s main operation in the state is Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. (See map of military installations in Georgia). (PDF)
Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base, located south of Macon in middle Georgia, is the home of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, the 78th Air Base Wing, and more than 60 other units that make up a vital part of the Air Force team. It is the largest industrial complex in Georgia, employing a workforce of about 25,000 civilians, contractors, and military members.
Education and Training
In conjunction with defense contractors, Fort Benning, and local economic development organizations, Columbus State University has developed modeling and simulation courses for prospective defense-contractor employees. In Atlanta, Georgia Tech’s Defense Technology Program offers leading-edge training certification in 9 defense-technology areas, including modeling and simulation. North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega serves as one of just six senior military colleges in the nation.
Georgia also offers new or expanding businesses an opportunity to enhance their employee training with one of the nation's leading programs, Quick Start, a free workforce training program customized to a company’s exact requirements. This program is delivered wherever and whenever needed to support a company’s business success.
Transportation and Logistics
Georgia’s geographic location offers numerous strategic advantages to companies involved with defense work. The coastal region contains one of the top ports (Savannah) on the U.S. East Coast and provides quick and easy access to vital ocean training and weapons systems training areas. Georgia’s highways, railways, ports and airports enable swift and efficient transport of goods to both domestic and international customers. To find out more, visit the Logistics & Transportation page.
Clearly, with a strong presence of aerospace and defense contractors, military installations, excellent infrastructure and quality training and education – Georgia’s position in the defense arena is among the strongest in the nation. If defense is your business, you’re in good company in Georgia.
Contacts
Emily Moore, Information Specialist: 404-962-4022 or emoore@georgia.org
Chuck Hunsaker, Senior Manager-Defense Projects: 404-291-6394 or chunsaker@georgia.org.
Resources
Aerospace in Georgia
Department of Defense
Air Force
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Reserve Command
Air National Guard
Army
Navy
Marine Corps