Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association

What Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association does

Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association (NIDIA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 2010 and headquartered at 1501 N Dewey St., Auburn, Indiana. The organization connects defense industry companies across a 20-county Northeast Indiana region (Adams, Allen, Blackford, Cass, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Grant, Howard, Huntington, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Marshall, Miami, Noble, St. Joseph, Steuben, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley) with workforce development resources, networking events, advocacy, and government contracting support. Its member base spans enterprise defense primes (Raytheon, BAE Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems, AM General), mid-market manufacturers and aerospace firms (Bowmar, Aegis Sales & Engineering, DIVSYS Aerospace & Engineering, HUPP Aerospace/Defense, Novaria Group, Portland Forge), defense-adjacent SMBs (Bulldog Consulting Services, GovParts, Winona IT), and educational institutions (Purdue University Fort Wayne, Trine University, Ivy Tech Fort Wayne). The organization expanded from its original scope to the current 20-county footprint in 2015 through a unanimous board vote.

NIDIA operates a membership-based business model in which companies pay recurring annual dues in exchange for access to networking events, defense installation tours (notably the 122nd Fighter Wing at Fort Wayne Airport), supplier matchmaking (e.g., SBA Supplier Matchmaking Expo), workforce development programs (Inspired to Hired, 3DE by Junior Achievement, Purdue capstone projects), advocacy before local, state, and federal officials, and government contracting assistance through its partnership with the Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Its underlying technology footprint is minimal and commodity in nature: a WordPress-based public website, Eventbrite for event registration, and iCalendar/Google/Outlook calendar feeds for event distribution. There is no proprietary platform, software product, or AI/ML capability disclosed.

The organization is governed by an elected board chaired (as of the latest data) by Alan Tio, with Lynne Miller serving in a chairman capacity drawing on her role at Raytheon, Nick Darrah (VP of Partnerships & Government Relations at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership), Treasurer Chris Straw (Founder/President of Team Quality Services), Secretary Sharon Miller (Founder/President/CEO of Bulldog Consulting Services), and additional board members from member companies. Strategic partnerships include the Indiana Innovation Institute (IN3) for quarterly Lunch & Learns on microelectronics, hypersonics, and electronic warfare; co-hosting with the Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG) at national security conferences; and ongoing relationships with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Indiana Office of Defense Development, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., and Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership.

Name

Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association

Legal name

NE Indiana Defense Industry Assoc. Inc.

Website

https://nidiaonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NIDIA is a 2010-founded nonprofit trade association headquartered in Auburn, Indiana, that connects 48+ defense industry member companies across a 20-county Northeast Indiana region with networking events, workforce development programs, advocacy, and government contracting resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC)

Keywords

• Defense industry association
• Membership trade organization
• Workforce development programs
• Defense contractor network
• Regional economic advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NIDIA generates revenue through annual membership dues from defense industry companies. Membership provides access to networking events, educational programs, advocacy services, government contracting resources, and business development opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NIDIA is a regional nonprofit trade association that connects defense and aerospace companies across 20 Northeast Indiana counties through membership programs. It delivers networking events, defense installation tours (e.g., 122nd Fighter Wing), supplier matchmaking, workforce development initiatives (Inspired to Hired, 3DE), advocacy on behalf of the defense industry, and liaison services with government agencies and elected officials, including government contracting support via its Indiana PTAC partnership.

Product overview

NIDIA is a regional industry association serving the Northeast Indiana defense and aerospace sector across 20 counties. Rather than offering a commercial product or platform, NIDIA provides membership-based programs and services including networking events, defense installation tours (such as the 122nd Fighter Wing and F-16 tours), supplier matchmaking events (SBA Supplier Matchmaking Expo), workforce development initiatives (Inspired to Hired program, 3DE by Junior Achievement partnership), advocacy, and connections to government contracting resources through PTAC. The association facilitates defense industry growth through educational events, legislative advocacy, and business development opportunities for its 48+ member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NIDIA Membership Annual membership in the regional defense and aerospace trade association for companies operating in (or supporting) the 20-county Northeast Indiana region, granting access to networking events, defense installation tours, supplier matchmaking, workforce development programs, advocacy, and liaison with government agencies, the Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and partner organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48 member companies and growing network
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supportive.

• Purdue University Fort WaynecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIDIA works with Purdue University Fort Wayne on workforce development initiatives including student capstone projects, talent pipeline development, and technical education programs for the defense industry.
• Ivy Tech Fort Wayne School of Information TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cybersecurity training programs and workforce development. Ivy Tech provides free cybersecurity courses and technical education supporting the defense industry's workforce needs.
• Trine UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner supporting workforce development and talent pipeline initiatives for defense industry companies.
• Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPTAC provides government contracting assistance, SBIR/STTR program support, and procurement guidance to NIDIA members seeking defense contracts.
• Northeast Indiana Regional PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization that NIDIA works with to grow the defense sector throughout the 20-county Northeast Indiana region.
• Greater Fort Wayne Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber and economic development organization partnering on business development and advocacy initiatives for the defense industry.
• Junior Achievement of Northern IndianasupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for workforce development through the 3DE Inspired to Hired program connecting defense industry with FWCS high school students.
• U.S. Small Business AdministrationsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerSBA partners with NIDIA on supplier matchmaking events and programs to connect small businesses with federal contracting opportunities.
• Indiana Office of Defense DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency focused on growing Indiana's defense industry, supporting NIDIA's mission to advance defense industry opportunities in Northeast Indiana.
• Indiana Innovation Institute (IN3)supportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerApplied research institute partnering with NIDIA on quarterly Lunch & Learn series focusing on defense technology challenges in microelectronics, hypersonics, and electronic warfare.
• 122nd Fighter Wing (Fort Wayne Airport)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary installation that NIDIA organizes member tours of and maintains relationships with for defense industry opportunities.
• Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG)supportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional defense innovation network that co-hosts events with N!DIA including happy hours and networking at national security conferences.
• Northeast Indiana Base Community CouncilsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting military families through events like Golf for the Warrior; NIDIA collaborates on joint events and advocacy.
• Northern Indiana Defense Innovation GroupsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional defense innovation group serving as a member and partner in NIDIA's network of defense industry stakeholders.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): The largest U.S. defense industry trade association with nationwide chapters and divisions covering policy, procurement, and events. NDIA competes for member attention and dues dollars even as NIDIA complements it regionally; both serve defense contractors with networking and advocacy.
• National Military Intelligence Association (NMIA): A national association serving the military intelligence community. While more specialized than NIDIA, it operates with a similar member-driven, networking-and-advocacy model relevant to NIDIA's defense contractor base.
• Association of the United States Army (AUSA): A large professional association for the U.S. Army and defense industry partners. Operates with the same membership-services, advocacy, and events model, though focused on the land-warfare domain.
• National Small Business Association (NSBA): National small business advocacy organization with member services and federal lobbying. Comparable in membership dues model and advocacy mission but addresses small business broadly rather than defense specifically.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): National aerospace and defense industry trade association representing major primes. AIA's policy advocacy and member programs overlap with NIDIA's, but at a national scale; NIDIA members like Raytheon, BAE, and General Dynamics are also AIA members.

Others

• Greater Fort Wayne Inc. Regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization that is also a NIDIA partner. Comparable in mission framing (membership dues, advocacy, business development) though serving all industries rather than defense specifically.
• Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC): A NIDIA partner providing government contracting assistance, SBIR/STTR program support, and procurement guidance. While not a membership association itself, it shares the mission of helping defense suppliers access federal contracts.
• Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership: Regional economic development organization for the 11-county Northeast Indiana region. A NIDIA partner that overlaps in economic-development mission and shares members/government-relations scope, but at broader industry focus.

Direct peers

• Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG): Regional defense innovation network that co-hosts events with NIDIA including happy hours and networking at national security conferences. Closest operational peer in terms of member-driven, regional defense industry networking.

Regional players

• Indiana Aerospace & Defense Council: Indiana-focused aerospace and defense industry association. Operates at a similar membership-based model to NIDIA but with statewide scope, making it a closer peer than NDIA but with a broader geographic mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NEINDefense

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association