Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Defense & Homeland Security

Florida Ranks...

  • 61,000+ active duty personnel
  • 2nd among U.S. states for space and defense systems manufacturing
  • 5th among U.S. states with $13.6 billion in Department of Defense contract awards
  • Key procurement offices, research operations, testing units and training commands for all service branches

Pratt & Whitney
West Palm Beach

Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, auxiliary and ground power units and small turbojet propulsion products. The company is expanding its West Palm Beach facility to prepare for product ramp up of their military Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) business. The project will create 110 jobs and generate capital investment of $25 million for facility upgrades and equipment.

When Pratt & Whitney announced they would build jet engines in Florida, it marked the first time the company would do that outside of Connecticut. That initial project and this expansion show that Florida has the workforce and resources needed for aerospace leaders to succeed in the state.

Gray Swoope
Florida Secretary of Commerce
President and CEO, Enterprise Florida