🔒On the Record: New hub helping Maine startups tap national security sector

Mike Wisecup, a retired Navy SEAL officer whose parents were career public servants, is a mentor in residence at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute, where he is advising leaders of the new National Security Innovation Hub. Mainebiz: What leadership lessons from your time as a Navy SEAL stay with you today? Mike Wisecup: “Earn your trident every day.” The trident is our warfare pin, the flashy gold pin we wear on our uniform. The moral is that you must earn your place on the team every day, regardless of what you’ve already accomplished, and strive to never be the weakest link. I take this approach in every role, both professionally and personally. MB: What brought you to Maine, and what was the transition like to civilian life? MB: Family and purpose. Transitioning out of a high intensity career that kept me deployed much of the time helped me prioritize being near my parents, who live in Windham, and getting deeply involved in a community. One of the hardest parts for veterans is finding a new purpose. Fortunately, I have found that in Maine through my work with Camp Sunshine, while at Colby College as the director of athletics, in my church, at the Roux Institute’s National Security Innovation Hub and in my executive coaching and leadership development practice. MB: What is the mission of the new hub at the Roux and what gap is it trying to fill? MW: The hub is designed to accelerate the development, commercialization and deployment of technologies that address both civilian and government challenges, connecting entrepreneurs, researchers, industry partners and public-sector stakeholders to advance innovation in national security sectors. MB: How many companies are in the hub, and what technologies are they developing? MW: We officially launched in May and have seven companies in the hub, with a goal of supporting 100 dual-use startups by 2030. Their capabilities range from autonomous cargo aircraft designed to deliver critical supplies to remote and disaster-affected areas, to an advanced geospatial intelligence and remote sensing platform supporting the U.S. Navy through environmental monitoring, maritime domain awareness and global situational intelligence, to a data and intelligence system that structures fragmented public records across thousands of municipalities. MB: How is ‘dual use’ defined? MW: “Dual use is a term to describe how a technology can be viably used for both civilian and government needs. This enables companies to broaden their customer base and, in some cases, benefit from non-dilutive capital and advanced research access. Some common examples of this include the microwave, GPS and duct tape. MB: How has the war in Ukraine accelerated interest in this sector? MW: The pace of tactical changes and advances in technology on the battlefield there is unprecedented. For example, within a year, drone technology will iterate four to five times just to remain relevant and functional because of the speed in creating countermeasures. Long duration and expensive programs cannot operate in this environment. Therefore, the defense industrial base, as we have known it, must change and include a wider field of more nimble, unconventional and inexpensive startup solutions. MB: Why is Maine positioned to become a center for national security and dual-use companies? MW: National security is much more than just defense. It also includes energy, environmental and infrastructure resilience, supply chain security, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, AI, space and maritime systems — all areas where Maine companies, universities and startups are well-positioned to compete. We already have a strategically important maritime environment, arctic proximity, a statewide culture of mission-driven innovation and an accessible and engaged congressional delegation. MB: What’s the long-term vision for the hub? MW: To make Maine a nationally recognized place where mission-driven companies can build, test, scale and commercialize technologies that serve both civilian and national security markets. The National Security Innovation Hub is a connector, an accelerator, a translator and a talent engine that helps organize Maine’s scattered assets into a coherent dual-use economy.