In February 2021, ATI worked with the U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics to create the Defense Electronics Consortium (DEC). This DoD-sponsored consortium is helping the government identify challenges, needs and opportunities in defense electronics, which have been impacted by the contraction of U.S. electronics manufacturing and other factors.

The DEC provides direct links between the electronics industry and the DoD. Through funded projects and a variety of programs such as conferences, networking events, and white papers, the DEC is working to bolster the security and resiliency of the defense electronics supply chain. DEC members are currently working on a Lead-Free Defense Electronics Project, to accelerate the transition to lead-free electronics in aerospace, defense, and other high-performance electronics. The DEC lead-free team has the deep industry knowledge, innovative research capabilities, and leading-edge facilities required to successfully migrate to lead-free defense electronics. The project team is led by Purdue University, the University of Maryland, and Auburn University.

About DEC

The mission of the DEC is to strengthen the economic and force posture of the U.S. defense electronics industrial base and provide the DoD with deeper insights and connections to the U.S. electronics industry while providing industry with greater access to DoD opportunities. The DEC identifies challenges, needs, and opportunities in defense electronics, which has been impacted by the contraction of U.S. electronics manufacturing and other factors