America's Military Advantage Starts Here
Where R&D, Engineering, Acquistion and Advanced Technology Converge to Preserve Defense Excellence.
The Mound-Van Dyke Defense Corridor brings together one of the world's most integrated concentrations of research and development, engineering talent, defense acquisition, advanced technology, prime contractors and specialized suppliers. Together, these assets operate as a single ecosystem to accelerate the development, fielding and sustainment of next-generation military capability.
Built over generations through engineering excellence, technical expertise, institutional knowledge and sustained public and private investment, this ecosystem continues to evolve alongside the changing character of warfare, giving companies unparalleled access to the talent, partners and defense enterprise required to rapidly develop, field and sustain the capabilities that preserve America's military superiority.
Learn More- 54sq. miles
- 47kjobs
- $65Bcontracts
- 60%army equipment
lifecycle managed
The Alliance Constituted, funded, operating.
The work is underway.
The Arsenal Alliance exists to protect, strengthen and expand one of America's most strategically important defense industrial ecosystems, helping ensure the United States retains the industrial capacity required to deter conflict, sustain military readiness and rapidly deliver next-generation military capabilities.
To advance that mission, Sterling Heights and Warren have committed $500,000 annually over three years to establish the organizational capacity needed to unite stakeholders, attract investment, strengthen the supplier ecosystem and position the corridor for the next generation of defense innovation and manufacturing. Formally launched in April 2025, the Alliance is supported by McKeon Group, AECOM, and BasedOn under a joint advisory contract approved by both city councils in March 2026. Work is underway.
This is what responsible leadership looks like—two cities coming together to address challenges and create real opportunity. The Arsenal Alliance partnership is our way of saying we will leverage our combined strengths, assets and resources to make sure we deliver the results that matter to the people and businesses of our region.
- Michael C. Taylor, Mayor of Sterling Heights
Through the Arsenal Alliance, we're leveraging our defense manufacturing legacy to drive innovation, strengthen economic resilience and secure long-term opportunity for Southeast Michigan.
- Lori M. Stone, Mayor of Warren
The Defense Corridor Our Foundation
- The world's most integrated ground systems defense ecosystem.
- A complete defense value chain—from Army R&D and acquisition to Tier II suppliers, Tier I integrators, prime contractors and advanced manufacturing.
- Dual-use industrial capacity that accelerates autonomous systems, AI, advanced manufacturing and next-generation military capability.
- Built to ensure America's military advantage through the rapid innovation, production, fielding and sustainment of next-generation capabilities.
- Responsible for approximately 60% of the Army's equipment lifecycle, where preserving and expanding this integrated defense ecosystem strengthens America's ability to rapidly adapt, modernize and sustain military superiority in an increasingly volatile world.
Corridor Assets
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DEVCOM GVSC
The United States Army's primary ground-systems R&D installation.
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TACOM
Manages roughly 60% of the Army's equipment supply chain.
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PEO GCS & CSS
Program execution.
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General Dynamics Land Systems
Anchors the private sector from its Mound Road headquarters.
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GM Global Technical Center
Adds 710 acres and 21,000 employees with documented crossover into defense programs.
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Macomb Michigan Technical Education Center
The M-TEC facility provides 40,600 square feet of employer-side training in robotics, machining, and advanced manufacturing.
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Gordie Howe Bridge, Ambassador Bridge and Blue Water Bridge
Connects North America's busiest trade corridor.
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Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Contributes $850 million in annual economic impact and a joint-service presence that extends the corridor's reach beyond ground systems.
Alliance Partners Partners Who Deliver Results
The Alliance is governed by an executive committee from Sterling Heights and Warren and supported by three advisory partners selected through a competitive RFP process.
Executive Committee
- Luke Bonner
- Senior Economic Development Advisor, City of Sterling Heights
- Haley Bradley
- Asst. City Manager, City of Sterling Heights
- Patrick Green
- Arsenal Alliance Executive Committee Chair
- Kristina Lodovisi
- Chief of Staff, City of Warren
- Mark Pasik
- Defense Advisor
Advisory Partners
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McKeon Group is led by former House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon — 22 years in Congress, 14 NDAAs authored — with daily working relationships at TACOM, GVSC, PEO GCS, and across the Michigan delegation. Combined, the team has secured more than $3 billion in DoD contracts, grants, and appropriations since 2019.
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AECOM brings 30 years of defense economic development experience, helping clients advance mission-critical infrastructure and economic development goals through an integrated approach that combines strategic advisory services, infrastructure delivery, installation and range modernization, resilient facilities, data-driven planning, and stakeholder engagement to align military, government, industry, and community priorities.
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BasedOn is a Detroit-based brand strategy and identity studio with direct experience branding multi-stakeholder innovation districts including Michigan Central and The District Detroit.
The Road Ahead What We're Building
The Alliance is building the partnerships and institutional capacity required to ensure America's defense industrial base can adapt, innovate and deliver the capabilities our armed forces will require in an increasingly contested world.
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Phase 01 Currently Underway
The team is conducting stakeholder engagement and research, mapping the corridor's defense assets, analyzing DoD contracting data, and developing the Alliance's brand and communications infrastructure.
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Phase 02 Awaiting Deployment // Month, Year
Delivery of the regional defense industry strategic plan—a blueprint for positioning Southeast Michigan at the forefront of national defense procurement and innovation.
Federal engagement activates: quarterly policy briefings in Washington and an Annual Legislative Day connecting Alliance stakeholders directly with congressional and DoD decision-makers.
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Phase 03 Continued Operations // Month, Year
Expanded marketing and content, supplier and investor activation, and annual impact document reporting what the Alliance is producing and where the corridor is headed.
Our Guiding Principle
The Arsenal of Democracy was never simply a place. It was America's ability to out-engineer, out-produce and out-innovate every adversary. That capability remains a strategic necessity. The Mound-Van Dyke Defense Corridor is where that legacy continues to evolve for the challenges of the twenty-first century.
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CONNECT WITH THE ALLIANCE
Defense contractors, suppliers, investors, workforce institutions and federal partners are invited to connect.
A member of the Alliance team will follow up within two business days.