Growing Innovation

Homeland Security and Defense

HDMAX camera from Florida Atlantic University enhances port security. [Photo courtesy of Florida Atlantic University]

Florida’s defense industry not only remains strong, it has spawned a growing cluster of homeland security businesses.

Strong defense

• About 50 military installations, including 12 major installations and three unified command centers, are located here, plus many of the nation’s leading defense contractors and a large pool of skilled workers and veterans.
• Florida is home to more than 85,000 Department of Defense civilian and military personnel.
• $10.3 billion in prime contracts awarded by the Department of Defense to private sector firms in 2006 puts Florida in 5th place nationwide.

Secure homeland

• 14 deepwater ports, 1,350 miles of coastline, 21 major airports, nearly 70 million visitors a year and several urban areas with populations exceeding 1 million make Florida a representative venue for developing, testing and implementing new homeland security solutions.
• In St. Petersburg, SRI International, a Silicon Valley-based research and development organization, plans to establish the first National Center for Maritime and Port Security and explore ways to better protect the nation’s ports.
• Hundreds of companies are working to develop technologies and products with homeland security applications, including: biometric fingerprint sensors; facial recognition software; vaccines to combat pandemic viruses; mass notification systems for ready response to natural disaster or attack; and machines for pulling clean drinking water right out of the air.

Aviation and Aerospace

Florida offers a welcoming climate to firms specializing in aircraft manufacture and maintenance, flight simulation and training systems, airport design/operations, communications, electronics and avionics.

• Nearly 1,800 aviation and aerospace companies employing about 83,000 workers make up this industry cluster.
• Florida is among the top four U.S. states in manufacturing space vehicles and parts.
• Florida airports serve a combined 135 million airline passengers per year.
• One-fifth of the world’s flight training occurs in Florida.
• The state is home to the 3rd largest aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) cluster in the U.S.
• Florida is host to nearly one-third of all commercial space activity worldwide.

Tags: North Central, Business Florida