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Defense & Transportation Manufacturing

San Diego’s defense and transportation manufacturing industry, long a workhorse of the San Diego regional economy, remains a major economic force today. The region has the largest military concentration in the nation and is home to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR), with more than $1.2 billion annually in contracts and salaries in the San Diego region. The depth of business, labor force talent and experience, and world-class university research programs are reasons companies such as SAIC, Goodrich Aerostructures, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, NASSCO (National Steel and Shipbuilding Company), Southwest Marine, Predicate Logic and Northrop Grumman benefit from doing business in San Diego. Products currently manufactured in San Diego include satellite communications systems, electronic systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, propulsion systems, deep space cameras, rugged military computers and displays, and robotic roving vehicles.

 
DEFENSE & TRANSPORTATION MANUFACTURING WAGE DATA (Medians)
MATHEMATICIAN $98,238
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER $76,603
MECHANICAL ENGINEER $75,836
NETWORK SYSTEMS ANALYST $67,309
MACHINIST $35,235
ELECTRONIC DRAFTER $52,187
SYSTEMS ENGINEER $75,754
SOFTWARE ENGINEER/APPLICATIONS $85,987
COMPUTER SCIENTIST/RESEARCH $90,646
Source: California Employment Development Dept., 2006

Facts-at-a-Glance

San Diego is a leader in U.S. defense and homeland security efforts. The direct economic impact of military spending in San Diego is $13.4 billion.
San Diego Association of Governments, 2005

The ripple effect of defense spending adds another $10.4 billion to the local economy, meaning defense accounts for more than 18% of San Diego County’s gross regional product.
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2005

San Diego has the most active-duty military personnel of any region in the country. For every two jobs supported by the military and defense R&D and manufacturing, the region supports another job in a related industry.
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2004

Rich with Resources

San Diego Defense & Space Consortium - an efficient virtual organization under which member companies can come together to market and bid new engineering production projects. The Consortium is a tremendous boost for small contractors as it allows them to team up and compete for projects that would normally be out of reach. The Consortium also serves as a focal point for government legislative initiatives related to defense and space. http://www.sandiegodefense.com

Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) - comprised of political, military and industry leaders. The San Diego chapter has more than 500 members, and more than 20 corporate members representing the heart of high technology in one of the country's most lucrative markets. http://www.afcea.org

National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)/San Diego Chapter - NDIA's primary areas of interest are the business and technical aspects of the government-industry relationship. http://www.ndia-sd.org

American Electronics Association/San Diego Council (AeA) - supports innovators from every sector of the technology industry, providing companies with smarter, more effective and efficient ways to do business, as well as acting as public-policy advocates. http://www.aeanet.org/AeACouncils/SDCouncilStart.asp

Other Resouces:
National Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure
San Diego Venture Group
San Diego Regional Technology Alliance
San Diego Software Industry Council
San Diego Supercomputer Center
San Diego Workforce Partnership
CONNECT

Updated 1/07