San Diego Defense Tech Leaders and Military Veterans to Gather for Post-Veterans Day Happy Hour – The National Law Review

San Diego Defense Tech Leaders and Military Veterans to Gather for Post-Veterans Day Happy Hour  The National Law Review

Defense Tech is a booming industry in Southern California. Is there sufficient talent locally to build these companies here? Find out more Nov 17 in Carlsbad SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Veterans from the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army will join leaders from San Diego's defense technology sector for a Defense Tech Happy Hour on Tuesday, Nov 17, 2026 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. in San Diego. The free, buy-your-own-drink networking event is designed to connect transitioning and established military veterans with executives building the next generation of defense technology companies in the region. Held just days after Veterans Day, the event brings together veteran talent and industry leadership at a moment when San Diego and Southern California's defense tech ecosystem — long anchored by the region's aerospace and defense heritage — is expanding rapidly and competing for skilled engineers, technologists, and finance professionals.

San Diego's defense sector currently supports nearly 357,000 jobs and contributes $61.3 billion to the regional economy — accounting for 22.2% of San Diego's Gross Regional Product — according to the 2025 Military Economic Impact Report from the San Diego Military Advisory Council and UC San Diego's Rady School of Management. Statewide, California's broader aerospace and defense industry supports approximately 358,800 jobs, with Southern California receiving the largest share