VICKSBURG – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., hosted Department of Defense (DOD) leaders in Mississippi to connect with the state’s research institutions, including its many Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg. The DOD delegation was led by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, Aprille Ericsson, and included other senior leaders from the DOD research and engineering enterprise.  

As the highest-ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Wicker has a unique position to showcase Mississippi’s significant defense contributions.  

Senator Wicker released the following statement: 

“It was important to have Pentagon leaders on the ground in Mississippi getting a first-hand view of the capabilities of our academic and commercial sectors. Using my role as the highest-ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, I intend to continue shining a spotlight on our state’s resources so that we are given even more of these opportunities,” Senator Wicker said.