Defense manufacturing is shifting from competing for programs to building the capacity to deliver them. Budgets are rising, demand is increasing, and timelines are compressing. As George Whittier explains, the challenge is no longer winning work; it's delivering at the scale and speed this moment requires.

George is the CEO of Fairbanks Morse Defense and brings over 30 years of experience in commercial and defense manufacturing. He has led the company's transformation from an engine manufacturer into a supplier of critical equipment and lifecycle services to the U.S. Navy.

What You'll Discover In This Episode

• From fighting over programs to scaling industrial capacity

• Moving beyond engines into full lifecycle equipment and services

• The compression of shipbuilding timelines from years to near-term delivery pressure

• Constraints across labor, supply chain, and materials

• Leadership decisions under speed, pressure, and imperfect information

Guest Bio

George Whittier is the Chief Executive Officer of Fairbanks Morse Defense, where he leads the company's expansion as a provider of mission-critical equipment, services, and technologies supporting the U.S. Navy and broader maritime defense ecosystem. A seasoned manufacturing and defense leader with over 30 years of experience, Whittier has played a central role in transforming the business from a traditional engine manufacturer into a diversified supplier delivering full lifecycle naval solutions. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.

Alex Krutz is the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing at the U.S. Commerce Department and the Managing Director at Patriot Industrial Partners, an Industrial Advisory firm.

Alex and his team partner with growth-oriented companies to improve their operational, quality and financial performance, drawing on decades of experience in complex problem solving, factory optimization, and supply chain optimization initiatives.

Alex has earned the nickname "The Factory Doctor" from industry executives, analysts and media due to spearheading many manufacturing and supply chain turnarounds. Alex has completed over 250+ industrial performance improvement projects and manufacturing turnarounds around the globe in USA, Mexico, Canada, UK, Italy, France, South Africa, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan and India.

You can find Alex's Op-Ed articles that are featured in industry-leading publications, including Washington Times, Forbes, Aviation Week and Flight Global. He has also been cited in major media outlets, such as Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CNBC, among others. He has contributed to prominent conferences and webinars organized by Bank of America, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and other institutions.

Resources

Have a project that can benefit from Alex's expertise?

Alex and his team at Patriot Industrial Partners work with growth-oriented organizations to raise their operational, quality and financial performance, drawing on decades of experience in complex problem solving, factory optimization, and due diligence.

Visit TheFactoryDoctor.com to learn more about private consulting and to request a Discovery Call.