Contact Information:
Midwest Defense Forum
Taylor Andreae
703-403-0040
taylor@midwestdefenseforum.org
Release Date:
May 14, 2024
MIKE GALLAGHER NAMED INAUGURAL CHAIRMAN OF
THE MIDWEST DEFENSE FORUM
Former congressman who led efforts to combat China’s rising threat to U.S. national security and pushed the Pentagon to embrace new technological innovations will continue his defense leadership at Green Bay-based entity.
[GREEN BAY, WI; May 14, 2024] – Former congressman, committee chair, and Marine Corps intelligence officer, Mike Gallagher, has been named the inaugural chairman of the Midwest Defense Forum. This position enables Dr. Gallagher to advance three national security priorities: leverage cutting-edge technology to restore conventional military deterrence; strengthen the upper Midwest economy by growing its defense tech sector; and educate citizens on the Constitution and principles of the American founding that our military was created to defend.
Dr. Gallagher served as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 8th District from 2017 to 2024, where he was known for his leadership on national security and defense issues, particularly regarding strategic competition with global powers and the importance of seapower in American grand strategy. As the founding Chairman of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, he led the most bipartisan and effective committee in the 118th Congress. Additionally, as Chairman of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation, he led efforts to force the Defense Department to innovate faster.
“I am honored to accept the role as inaugural chair of the Midwest Defense Forum. The Midwest is a manufacturing superpower, with a proud history of helping defend the country with our humble, hard working ethos that has built countless warships and continues to be a cornerstone of the Defense Industrial Base. Now, with legacy companies such as Fincantieri Marinette Marine (Marinette, WI) building the future Frigate and new companies such as RAIC (Delafield, WI) on the cutting-edge of artificial intelligence, the Midwest is perfectly positioned to lead a defense manufacturing renaissance. We want the Midwest to be a destination for top national-security and tech talent, and we want all Americans to understand what we are fighting for.”
Midwest Defense Forum CEO John Gard said that “Congressman Gallagher’s practical experience as a Marine Corps intelligence officer, his academic credentials, his congressional leadership on national security matters, and his success in helping accelerate Northeastern Wisconsin’s economic growth all come together in helping us invent the future of defense tech across the Midwest.”
Former US Senator and University of Florida president Ben Sasse said that “The Midwest Defense Forum’s focus on Western Civilization offers an answer to one of the most profound questions in American society—what are our warfighters defending? By deepening our collective understanding of the democratic ideals that enable our nation to prosper and be a benefit to the rest of the world, our all-voluntary military will remain inspired by their noble cause and all other citizens will be inspired to find better ways for their own contribution to the greater good.”
For more information about the Midwest Defense Forum, please visit https://midwestdefenseforum.org/
ABOUT MIDWEST DEFENSE FORUM
The Midwest Defense Forum helps protect America from rising global threats by accelerating the Midwest’s tech-enabled defense industry. The Forum also seeks to preserve democracy at home by promoting the ideals of Western Civilization and the principles of a free society through education and other strategies to bolster responsible citizenship.