In this episode of 3Degrees Discussions, Mike Vasquez sits down with Justin Levy, founder of DefendAM, to discuss one of the most important challenges facing the U.S. defense industrial base: building secure, scalable, domestic manufacturing capacity for unmanned aerial systems.

Justin shares his journey into additive manufacturing and defense, his experience supporting Air Force and Navy manufacturing programs, and why he founded DefendAM to strengthen America's ability to rapidly produce mission-critical drone systems. The conversation explores the intersection of additive manufacturing, defense production, supply chain resilience, and the future of domestic manufacturing.

Topics discussed include:

The current state of U.S. drone manufacturing

Building resilient domestic supply chains

Additive manufacturing's role in defense production

Lessons learned from working with Air Force and Navy programs

SBIR/STTR innovation and technology transition

The future of the defense industrial base

Whether you're involved in additive manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing, this episode offers valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges shaping the next generation of American manufacturing.

Learn more about 3Degrees and TRACEAM: https://www.3degreescompany.com

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#AdditiveManufacturing #3DPrinting #Defense #DroneTechnology #UAS #DefenseIndustrialBase #AdvancedManufacturing #Manufacturing #Aerospace #SBIR #TRACEAM