The Atlantic County Economic Alliance (ACEA) and the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park (NARTP) proudly served as Platinum Sponsors of the 2025 NAWCAD Lakehurst Industry Day, held yesterday at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey. Both organizations remain deeply committed to expanding economic opportunities across Atlantic County through strategic partnerships that drive job creation, attract federal investment, and foster long-term innovation.
This premier annual event brought together more than 200 Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and small businesses from across the nation to connect directly with Navy leadership, program managers, and contracting officers from NAWCAD Lakehurst.
Lauren Moore, President of ACEA, emphasized the significance of supporting this event and the role ACEA plays in connecting local and regional businesses to the defense sector. “ACEA is proud to help bridge the gap between our regional business community and federal opportunities,” said Moore. “Events like Industry Day showcase the power of collaboration—between economic development agencies, research institutions like NARTP, and government partners like NAWCAD—to generate real impact in terms of job creation, innovation, and national security.”
Representing ACEA and NARTP at yesterday’s event were Noel McGuire, Director of Aviation Business Development at ACEA, and Rocco Mancuso, Director of Operations at NARTP, who both addressed the crowd during the morning session. Their remarks emphasized the importance of collaboration between military installations, industry partners, and regional economic organizations to drive innovation, workforce development, and national security.
“Approximately 50% of Atlantic County’s economy is tied to tourism and gaming. While these industries are vital to our region, such a strong reliance on one sector highlights the importance of diversifying our economic base,” noted McGuire. “We are planting the seeds to build an innovation ecosystem centered around aviation technology. This includes advancing concepts like ‘highways in the sky,’ accelerating the development of drone systems and future mobility solutions such as flying cars. By strategically connecting regional assets like the Atlantic City International Airport and the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, we are laying the groundwork for a next-generation aviation hub.”
“What makes our work at NARTP so impactful is the strength of our collaboration,” added Mancuso. “We actively engage with government, academia, and industry through robust public-private partnerships. One of our flagship efforts, the Airfield Autonomy Initiative, represents the forefront of innovation in unmanned systems and smart airport technology. It is exciting work that positions South Jersey as a national leader in the future of aviation.”
NAWCAD Lakehurst has a proven record of accomplishment of engaging small, women-owned, minority, disadvantaged, and veteran-owned businesses. In fiscal year 2020 alone, the agency awarded more than $2.4 billion across over 6,700 contract actions—$1.15 billion of which went directly to small businesses.
