Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann Launches Indiana Office of Defense Development, Names New Director

Indianapolis - Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann names Duane Embree as the director of the Indiana Office of Defense Development.  Embree comes to state government following a lengthy career in the defense sector, most notably at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane.

Embree served the Navy with 35 years of federal civilian service, the last 13 of those as a member of the Senior Executive Service where he served as the ranking senior civilian at the NSWC Crane along with several national leadership roles for the Navy.   He retired from NSWC Crane in November and most recently served as Ivy Tech’s National Director of Military and Defense Initiatives.

“There is no one more qualified and well respected in the Indiana defense sector than Duane Embree,” said Lt. Governor Ellspermann. “Indiana’s defense sector, with its combination of defense assets and industries, is poised for major growth. Duane’s guidance and leadership will strengthen our current resources as well as attract new opportunities.”

The Indiana Office of Defense Development (IODD) was created through an executive order by Governor Mike Pence on his first day in office to provide a focused effort on growing the defense sector business in Indiana and creating jobs for Hoosiers.

IODD will focus on four main components of economic development within the defense sector: First, to preserve and grow our current military assets and installations.  2) Promote and strengthen the defense industries in Indiana.  3) Attract defense related industries through local, state and regional economic development organizations.  4) Promote the use and commercialization of defense and federal intellectual property to create new products, companies and jobs.

The IODD will work with all existing defense assets in the state, and has signed a partnership agreement with NSWC Crane. This agreement is the next step in leveraging the incredible assets at NSWC Crane and other defense installations along with Indiana’s industry and academic assets for economic development and makes the most of taxpayer funded capabilities and research. 

Indiana’s defense industry is a signification portion of the economy, Ellspermann noted, with high paying jobs above the state average.  In 2011, Indiana was receiving an average of $4 billion annually in defense contracts, according to the Indiana Business Research Center at IU’s Kelley School of Business. 

“Now is the time for Indiana to declare ourselves as open for military business,” said Ellspermann.  “We have the defense assets, infrastructure, and a growing synergy among private business and educational institutions to market technical innovations and offer a favorable economic environment for new business and expansions.  This industry also provides the high tech, high wage STEM jobs which we seek to grow in Indiana.”

The IODD will join the lieutenant governor’s family of businesses. These agencies include the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Office of Tourism Development, and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

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