As part of a historic modernization initiative to secure critical defense infrastructure, the Department of Defense has named Martin-Collier-Phillips Corporation (MCPC) the prime contractor for U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) next-generation integrated cybersecurity and autonomous defense systems program.
The $8.7 billion, 10-year contract funds the Continental Defense Cyber-Physical Shield (CDCPS), a competitive award that builds upon MCPC’s decades of support to defense and federal agencies to ensure homeland defense operators have the cyber resilience and autonomous system integration required for 21st-century threat overmatch.
THE BIG PICTURE
Under the new contract, MCPC will execute operations and provide engineering sustainment across:
- Real-time cyber threat detection and mitigation for critical defense infrastructure across 150+ installations;
- Autonomous surveillance and response systems integration, including AI-driven robotics and unmanned platform maintenance; and
- Cross-domain IT modernization and legacy system transformation for seamless command-and-control interoperability.
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE
“MCPC is profoundly honored to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the dedicated personnel safeguarding our homeland,” said Dr. Walter T. Collins, executive vice president, MCPC Defense Systems. “For more than nine decades—dating back to our earliest aviation roots—our teams have delivered the engineering rigor and technological innovation required to protect our nation. We understand that every second matters in the defense of our country, and our 20,000 professionals, our J. Martin Propulsion Systems Laboratory, and our M. Tilden Robotics Center are positioned to meet the warfighter’s evolving needs. Building on our proven success supporting the DEA, DFAS, and Naval Base Coronado, we are ready to transform continental defense capabilities, ensuring our operators always maintain the decisive advantage.”
WHY IT MATTERS
CDCPS represents USNORTHCOM’s largest cyber-physical integration contract vehicle, delivering mission-critical services including AI-enhanced security operations, autonomous systems lifecycle management, and enterprise IT infrastructure support to the homeland defense community.
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT
The MCPC-led Continental Defense team includes strategic partners providing specialized capabilities in artificial intelligence, quantum-resistant encryption, and advanced robotics to ensure seamless support for defense operations.
MCPC Defense Systems is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with the J. Martin Propulsion Systems Laboratory and M. Tilden Robotics Center serving as flagship facilities, employing over 20,000 professionals worldwide. The company continues to expand its sustainment and engineering services to military and government agencies globally, maintaining a worldwide network of personnel, testing facilities, suppliers, and partners supporting 24/7 operations.