NextGen Leadership and Outreach
Building Tomorrow’s Defense Leaders Today
About NextGen Leadership and Outreach
NDIA Michigan’s NextGen Leadership and Outreach Initiative is dedicated to advancing the next generation of defense professionals. Through strategic partnerships, mentorship, and professional development, we cultivate leaders who will lead our nation’s defense industry into a bright future.
This initiative provides structure, resources, and opportunities for young professionals, university students, and established leaders to connect and collaborate
Young Professionals Connect (YPC)
We support early-career defense professionals with opportunities to connect, learn, and lead. From professional development workshops to networking events, YPC provides a space where emerging leaders can build the skills and relationships that accelerate their careers.
We’re here to help young professionals:
- Grow their professional network
- Learn from industry leaders and peers
- Pick up relevant and career-enhancing new skills
University Outreach
Strong partnerships with universities ensure that the next wave of talent is prepared for, and connected to, defense career opportunities.
- Quarterly campus visits to engage with students
- Collaboration with NDIA Michigan STEM scholarship recipients
- Invitations for university students to join YPC events
- Promotion of internships and career pathways in the defense sector
A Visit with Future Defense Talent at CMU – January 2026
It was a big day for future defense talent at Central Michigan University 🎓 when the NDIA Michigan Chapter and Women in Defense Michigan Chapter hosted a university outreach event focused on one thing: Showing students just how many high-impact, Michigan-based careers exist in our defense industry. ⚙️60+ students participated ⚙️ Multiple CMU schools were represented ⚙️ Real conversations about real careers happened
and engaged:
Appreciation also goes to the entire CMU team for seamless coordination, as well as Erin Strang and the CMURC team, and our NDIA Michigan board members Nancy Loerch, Gregg Wildes, Ph.D., and Mark Ignash, GWCCM for their support.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬.
Mentorship & Mentee Program
Guidance matters. NDIA Michigan’s mentorship program pairs young professionals with senior defense leaders. It creates a powerful cycle of learning and leadership, allowing:
- One-on-one mentorship
- Support for students entering the defense workforce
Why It Matters
NextGen Leadership strengthens the future of the defense industry by:
- Building a pipeline of talent ready to meet current and future challenges
- Creating meaningful connections between students and industry pros
- Bringing diverse voices to the defense industry conversation
Get Involved
Whether you’re a student exploring defense careers or a seasoned leader eager to mentor the next generation of leaders, we’d love to have you involved in NDIA Michigan’s NextGen Leadership initiative.