By Oscar Garcia

Inside the high-tech, collaborative spaces of Fathomwerx in Port Hueneme, California, amid the steady hum of 3D printers and advanced machinery, a delegation from the Military Affairs Council (MAC) and the Hawaii Defense Alliance gathered for a visit Oct. 23, 2026. The atmosphere was charged with a shared vision that went far beyond standard military logistics—the goal was to bridge critical gaps between commercial technology innovators, local community stakeholders, and military operational requirements.

As the delegation moved through the facility, Mark Thompson, Tech Transfer Program Manager (ORTA) and Fathomwerx co-director, guided key leaders, including Hawaii Defense Alliance Program Manager Pono Chong and MAC Vice President Jason Chung, into the heart of the additive manufacturing laboratory. Here, Thompson demonstrated how fast prototyping and advanced manufacturing can be leveraged to solve real-world fleet problems on demand. By showcasing these capabilities, the initiative laid out a clear blueprint for a localized, home-grown career pipeline.

The visit concluded with the delegation gathering for a group photo in front of the Fathomwerx stage, representing a unified front committed to economic resilience and national security. Hosted in coordination with the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC), linking the innovation ecosystem of NAVFAC EXWC and Fathomwerx with Hawaiian leadership ensures that the future of Pacific defense is built and sustained.

Headquartered at Naval Base Ventura County, NAVFAC EXWC is a command comprised of federal civilians, contractors, and military personnel delivering research, development, testing, and in-service engineering solutions across expeditionary, ocean, and shore technical domains.

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