Michigan Defense Expo Coming to Detroit

0:00Well, even Fox is using footage from November 11th in Portland, Oregon, where they're talking about the stormtroopers also known as ICE, and I think it should be changed to the national organization so they could be called Nice, but be that as it may, using pepper spray on quote unquote peaceful protesters. They got out of hand. They thought they could be bullies like some of their leaders, so, but that's November. That's not happening anymore. Anyway, the Michigan Defense Expo MDEX, Michigan's premiered defense and advanced manufacturing event is entering a new chapter this year. It will co-locate with exponential at Huntington Place downtown Detroit, and together the co-located events will be known as MDEXXX, exponential 2026. If you're confused, imagine how confused I am, but the good news is because Mike Parsons

1:01knows that this is important to our area. We have take time. We have self-reduced you understand, but we now have retired Lieutenant Colonel Misty Martin, who is the event chair for the Michigan Defense Expo, and here to tell us what this is all about. Lieutenant, to Martin, thank you for your service, and thank you for joining Paul W. Smith in focus. Thank you for having me. It's our pleasure. Can you explain in terms that even I can understand what this is all about? I would be happy to. So the Michigan Defense Expo, this is our 17th year, but as you so eloquently stated, we are co-hosting in Detroit this year with exponential. Accidential is a yearly gathering of global leaders and in-users in the uncrewed system and the robotics industry. But because Detroit shows where autonomy can be put to work, where we know what manufacturing is, they show Detroit to host this year's exponential show and ask those of us from

2:07MDEC to be that co-host with them. So we're really excited. Our role as the host for it is, it's functional, not just symbolic. And we want to show them that as autonomy moves into its execution phase from prototypes or just from great ideas to actual production, that here in Michigan is the place that really understands that piece and that manufacturing and defense and logistics. So we're excited to co-host with exponential and show that shift from experimentation in the defense world to actual industrialization. And what we'll do is we will have those right army organizations, space force organizations and Air Force here that are responsible for the ground combat systems briefing and explaining what opportunities are coming to industry. I must tell you, Lieutenant Colonel Misty Martin, event chair for the Michigan Defense

3:07Expo, in reading up on our little conversation here, this is economic development, this is defense readiness, this is advanced manufacturing at scale. And what really caught my attention is that we're looking at robotics and uncrewed systems across air, land and maritime domains in a rotating global platform. And that means, I mean, just what I just read means fewer American men and women, young men and women being put in harm's way when we can come up with robotics and uncrewed systems across air, land and maritime domains. That's a big deal and I embrace it. It is. And it's a great, you know, it's a great thing. Anytime that we can keep our men and women serving safe is a win for everybody. And you're right. The state's defense sector, our expertise in our ground vehicle technology here in Michigan

4:11and it's automotive heritage, leverage is, it's just, well, it's exponential, right? So it's great. The ground system. As they say. Here in Michigan. Yeah. Here in ground systems, our aerospace in Michigan, we have over 900 aerospace related companies. We have more military vehicles produced in Michigan than any other state. And then like you mentioned, maritime, we just started the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing initiative in 2024. So I mean, there's not anything we don't do when it comes to defense here. Let me, is there anything else we need to know about the event like is everybody invited or is this a closed kind of gathering? Tell me that. Yeah. So you can go online and you do have to register. It's May 12th through the 14th. And like I said, if you want to hear from the global leaders and then those key organizations that are responsible for the ground combat systems and and some logistic support systems

5:11here, that is, you know, the people I think that will benefit the most from it, but everybody is welcome. What online? Where do they go? Exponential.org? Or is there something else? MD S. Yes. The register? Yes. I'm sorry. Do you have it? Well, I don't know. I have to couple of them. You give it. If you don't have it. Okay. It's M-D-E-X-N-D-I-A dot com. All right. That's one of the one of the ones I have. That's good. Yes. M-DX-N-D-I-A dot com. All right. And it's it is May 12th through the 14th and you have to register to go. All right. We have very little time. But in 30 seconds or less, tell me about you, Lieutenant Colonel Misty Martin, as they would say in the old days, what's a girl like you doing in a position like this? Well, it was it was my honor to serve. I like you said I served for 21 years and it was there was nothing besides being the

6:16mom of my two sons that brought me more joy. So I truly enjoyed it. And this is my way of cheering M-DX-N-D-X-N-D-I-A to continue to give back to those still serving. God bless you in 21 years. I didn't know that long. God bless you for your incredible service and you continue to serve all of us. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Misty Martin, the event chair for the Michigan Defense Expo. Go to mdx-N-D-I-A dot com for more information. Thank you, ma'am, very much. God bless you. Thank you again for having me on. I appreciate it. It's our pleasure. We continue on WJR. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4