Building the Workforce
That Builds the Parts
America has 3.8 million manufacturing jobs to fill by 2033. Oklahoma has the talent — in its universities, technology centers, and rural communities. MILHUB, partnering with Siemens, is building the training pipeline to activate that workforce for defense manufacturing.
Mfg Jobs to Fill by 2033
National manufacturing workforce gap
Struggle to Hire
Aerospace & defense companies
Welders Needed by 2028
Critical trade shortage nationwide
Job Placement Rate
ATDM defense manufacturing grads
A National Opportunity
Activating Rural America
America already has the industrial talent — it lives in small towns and rural communities that are eager to support national defense, possess specialized skills and deep trade knowledge, and represent a resilient, distributed industrial base.
What Blocks Rural Manufacturers Today
- xComplex contracting pathways that only large companies navigate
- xCertification and compliance barriers that cost more than the first contract
- xLimited access to secure facilities, modern equipment, and training
- xInconsistent demand signals that prevent planning and hiring
- xEnterprise software costs that are prohibitive for small shops
What MILHUB Provides
- Pre-established contract vehicles — skip the procurement maze
- Full certification support: AS9100, ITAR, DCAA, airworthiness
- Industrial plots with shared infrastructure and quality labs
- Curated parts pipeline from complete weapon system BOM data
- Discounted Siemens software with training and integration support
Every year we fail to activate rural manufacturing, we lose skilled labor and weaken the defense industrial base.
This capacity must be engaged now, while it still exists.
University Partners
Oklahoma's Engineering Talent Pipeline
From USAO right here in Chickasha to OU's Gallogly College of Engineering 37 miles away, Oklahoma's universities produce the engineers, data scientists, and researchers that MILHUB companies need.
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO)
Primary PartnerPrograms: Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Environmental Science
Oklahoma's only public liberal arts university — right here in Chickasha. Primary academic partner with Siemens software lab on campus. STEM foundation programs that feed into OU and OSU engineering tracks. Joint research in defense manufacturing data science and AI-powered quality assurance.
University of Oklahoma (OU)
Programs: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Materials Science, Additive Manufacturing, Robotics, Data Science
Gallogly College of Engineering — 16 academic programs, 40+ degree options. Specialized labs for additive manufacturing, composite structures, and robotics. Graduate research partnerships and co-op placements at MILHUB companies.
Oklahoma State University (OSU)
Programs: Materials Science & Engineering, Mechatronics & Robotics, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology
School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering (MMME). Advanced Technology Research Center works directly with industry. Manufacturing systems optimization and co-op placements at MILHUB.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU)
Programs: Engineering Technology, Engineering Physics, Computer Science, Aerospace & Defense Workforce Development
Launched dedicated Aerospace & Defense Workforce Development program in 2022 with three career pathways. Official partner of the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA).
Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC)
Programs: Engineering Technology (AAS), Certified Manufacturing Engineer prep, Computer Science
Workforce on-ramp for associate-level technicians. Pathway for FAA A&P certification holders. Bridge program to 4-year engineering degrees at OU and OSU.
Rose State College
Programs: Technology AAS, Additive Manufacturing for Workforce Development, Engineering Science
Offers dedicated additive manufacturing courses — 'Introduction to Additive Manufacturing' and 'Engineering and Design for AM.' Proximity to Tinker AFB bridges manufacturing and military sustainment.
Technology Centers
Oklahoma CareerTech: The Manufacturing Backbone
Oklahoma's CareerTech system — 29 technology centers across nearly 170 sites statewide with 7,500+ annual enrollments — is the nation's premier vocational training network. Oklahoma ranks first in the nation for high schools offering aviation-based education. Six centers within 50 miles of MILHUB produce the machinists, welders, and technicians that defense manufacturing demands.
Canadian Valley Technology Center
Chickasha, El Reno & Yukon, OK
Primary CareerTech partner with a campus right in Chickasha. 31 full-time programs. Direct pipeline for machinists, welders, and industrial technicians. Siemens software integration into CNC and pre-engineering programs.
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center
Fort Cobb, OK
Rural workforce activation serving southwest Oklahoma. 16 full-time career fields. Training skilled tradespeople from rural communities for defense manufacturing careers at MILHUB.
Mid-America Technology Center
Wayne, OK
CNC machinist and welding programs directly aligned with MILHUB manufacturing needs. Short-term certification tracks for rapid workforce deployment.
Moore Norman Technology Center
Norman & South OKC, OK
Advanced manufacturing training including Industry 4.0 technology, programmable logic control, and precision machining. Feeds the OKC metro workforce to MILHUB.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Oklahoma City, OK (Reno, Edmond & Rockwell campuses)
One of OKC's premier technology centers. CNC program includes engine lathes, vertical mills, CNC turning/machining centers, and CAM software. Integrated quality control training.
Mid-Del Technology Center
Midwest City, OK
Three campuses including one at Tinker AFB. Industry 4.0 curriculum with cutting-edge automation. Unique position bridging Air Force sustainment operations with manufacturing workforce training.
Siemens Partnership
World-Class Engineering Software for Oklahoma
MILHUB is teaming with Siemens to deploy their full engineering and manufacturing software suite across Oklahoma's education institutions and MILHUB resident companies. Through Siemens' Academic Program, NX, Solid Edge, Teamcenter, and Simcenter are available free to educators and students — while MILHUB provides discounted commercial licenses and integration support for resident manufacturers.
Siemens NX
Industry-leading CAD/CAM/CAE software for product design, engineering analysis, and manufacturing. The same tool used by Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and major defense primes.
Use cases: 3D modeling, simulation, CNC programming, additive manufacturing design
Teamcenter
Product lifecycle management (PLM) platform that manages engineering data, BOMs, change orders, and compliance documentation across the entire manufacturing process.
Use cases: BOM management, configuration control, quality tracking, compliance
Solid Edge
Professional 3D CAD software with integrated simulation, manufacturing, and data management capabilities — ideal for small and medium manufacturers.
Use cases: Part design, sheet metal, assembly modeling, 2D drafting
Tecnomatix
Digital manufacturing solutions for process planning, factory simulation, and production optimization. Plan your manufacturing floor before breaking ground.
Use cases: Process planning, factory layout, robotics simulation, throughput analysis
Why Siemens Software Matters
Defense primes like Boeing and Lockheed Martin use Siemens NX and Teamcenter as their standard engineering platforms. When small and medium manufacturers use the same tools, they can seamlessly receive and execute digital work packages, participate in the defense supply chain without format conversion barriers, and produce parts that meet the exact specifications required by the primes and the Air Force.
Free for Education. Discounted for Manufacturers.
Through the Siemens Global Academic Program, NX, Solid Edge, Teamcenter, and Simcenter are available at no cost to accredited educational institutions. Students can download NX and Solid Edge free with a student email. MILHUB extends this with discounted commercial licenses, Xcelerator Academy training, and integration support for resident manufacturers transitioning from training to production.
What We Provide
From Training to Production
MILHUB doesn't just connect manufacturers with contracts. Our team assists with everything a company needs to do business with the government — software, equipment, certifications, training, and workforce.
Siemens Software Access
Discounted licenses for NX, Teamcenter, Solid Edge, and Tecnomatix for MILHUB residents and partner institutions. The same tools used by Tier 1 defense primes, available to small and medium manufacturers.
AI & Advanced Manufacturing Training
Hands-on training in AI-powered quality inspection, digital twin technology, additive manufacturing, and predictive maintenance — delivered at MILHUB with Siemens and TITAN platform integration.
Government Contracting Readiness
Our team walks manufacturers through every step: CAGE codes, SAM registration, DCAA compliance, ITAR, AS9100 certification, and DFARS cybersecurity requirements. We get you ready to do business with the DoD.
Equipment & Facility Setup
We assist with equipment procurement, facility layout planning, and production line design using Siemens Tecnomatix simulation. Get your manufacturing floor optimized before the first machine arrives.
Apprenticeship & Co-Op Programs
Structured apprenticeships with MILHUB resident manufacturers, co-op placements for university and tech center students, and on-the-job training programs that lead to full-time defense manufacturing careers.
Certification Fast-Track
Accelerated certification programs for CNC operation, welding (AWS), non-destructive testing, quality assurance, and additive manufacturing — compressed timelines designed for the defense manufacturing urgency.
Build the Workforce
Oklahoma Has the Talent.
We Have the Mission.
Whether you're a university, a technology center, a manufacturer looking for trained workers, or a student looking for a career in defense manufacturing — MILHUB is where it all connects.