WICHITA, Kan. — The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University is proud to announce its role as the founding academic partner of the newly formed Defense Digital Ecosystem Alliance (DDEA), an independent, industry-led alliance.
The DDEA brings together government, industry, and academic partners to advance digital engineering and accelerate the transition of defense technologies from concept to capability. As a founding partner, NIAR will contribute its extensive research expertise, digital engineering leadership, and applied learning capabilities to help shape national strategies for next-generation defense systems.
"The Defense Digital Ecosystem Alliance was founded with a clear mission to help the U.S. defense community deliver capabilities faster through greater interoperability across digital systems,” said DEDA Executive Director John Cunningham. “Achieving this requires close collaboration among government, industry, and academia. We are delighted to welcome NIAR as a founding academic partner. They bring tremendous expertise in digital engineering, and we encourage other academic institutions to join us in accelerating innovation and strengthening our nation’s defense capabilities.”
Shawn Ehrstein, NIAR director of CAD/CAM and Emerging Technologies, has been appointed to the DDEA Executive Board. In this role, Ehrstein will help guide the Alliance’s strategic priorities and advance mission-driven outcomes across the digital engineering ecosystem.
“NIAR’s role as the founding academic partner of the Defense Digital Ecosystem Alliance reflects our commitment to advancing the digital engineering capabilities essential to our nation’s future,” Ehrstein said. “By bringing together government, industry, and academia, the DDEA is creating the collaborative framework needed to accelerate innovation, strengthen interoperability, and deliver mission-ready solutions. We are proud to support this effort and excited to help shape the digital foundations that will guide future defense technologies.”
Looking ahead, NIAR and Wichita State University will host the first DDEA Summit in early 2027, bringing together key leaders and innovators from across the digital engineering community.
Together with its partners, NIAR is helping build the trusted, data-driven foundations needed to strengthen mission readiness, enhance interoperability, and advance the future of defense systems.
About NIAR
The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University provides research, testing, certification and training services support the aviation, defense and advanced manufacturing industries. NIAR’s mission is to strengthen university research capabilities; provide applied learning opportunities for students; and support the aviation and manufacturing industries – while driving innovation and prosperity for the community, region and state. Established in 1985, NIAR’s yearly R&D expenditures exceed $400 million,
with more than 2,000 personnel and 2 million square feet of laboratory and office space in six locations across Wichita, Kan., and one in Huntsville, Ala. National Institute for Aviation Research