Jason Engelhardt, Founder and CEO of Silicon Beach Development, presented the Keystone Heights Innovation & Defense Campus vision to the Florida Defense Support Commission during its September 17 meeting at the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
The presentation outlined a proposed dual-use innovation ecosystem centered on Keystone Heights Airport, with a focus on helping advanced aviation and autonomous-systems companies move from research and development through testing, training, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Supporting Florida's defense ecosystem
The discussion highlighted Northeast Florida's established military and defense presence, the strategic setting created by Keystone Heights Airport and nearby Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, and the opportunity to connect emerging technology companies with regional capabilities and talent.
KHIDC is being shaped around a practical question: what environments, infrastructure, partnerships, and workforce pathways will innovators and mission partners need to move useful technology forward?
From vision to responsible planning
We were honored to share the KHIDC vision with the Commission and to contribute to the broader conversation about strengthening Florida's military communities and defense industrial base.
KHIDC remains a proposed development. The presentation did not constitute an approval, commitment, partnership, or announcement of operational availability.