Aerospace & Defense

Alabama is the heart of U.S. Army Aviation and Missile programs (Redstone Arsenal / MDA), Airbus US final assembly, and a maturing automotive and aerospace cluster across the state.

California is the global center of gravity for commercial space, AI, semiconductors, and Pacific defense, anchored by SoCal's space-and-missile primes and the Bay Area's AI and platform companies.

Florida is the U.S. space launch capital, a fast-growing fintech and healthtech market, and a major aerospace MRO and defense electronics state.

Illinois is the Midwest's industrial command center and a top-five U.S. technology talent market, with Chicago's quant, AI, and fintech depth complementing heavy manufacturing across the rest of the state.

Indiana is a top-five U.S. manufacturing state by output, with strong aerospace engines presence (Rolls-Royce Indianapolis), automotive, life sciences, and a fast-growing Indianapolis tech scene.

Michigan is the engine of the U.S. automotive and mobility industry, and increasingly an autonomy and battery-electric leadership market driven by OEM and Tier-1 transformation.

From the Research Triangle's AI and biopharma research base to Charlotte's banking-tech engine and the Honda Aircraft / Spirit AeroSystems footprint in the Triad, North Carolina is one of the most balanced executive markets in the country.

Ohio combines the country's deepest aerospace-engineering bench at Wright-Patterson AFB and GE Aerospace Evendale with a heavy industrial automotive, polymers, and process-manufacturing base across the rest of the state.

Pennsylvania balances the legacy of steel and pharmaceuticals with one of the country's most aggressive AI and robotics build-outs around Carnegie Mellon, plus a vibrant Philadelphia life-sciences scene.

South Carolina is the Southeast's manufacturing and aerospace assembly engine, with Boeing 787 final assembly in North Charleston and a deep automotive supplier base across the Upstate.

Texas is the only U.S. market with simultaneous depth in defense (Lockheed Fort Worth, JRSO San Antonio), energy and chemicals (Houston), and a Tier-1 technology metro (Austin / Dallas), making it the most fungible executive market in the country.

Virginia anchors the National Capital Region defense industrial base and the U.S. East Coast cloud and cybersecurity corridor. Cleared talent density between Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia is the deepest in the country.