Military & Defense - Charleston County Economic Development

The military and defense sector is a crucial pillar of Charleston County's economy, strategically combining a significant multi-service military presence with a thriving, high-tech cluster of defense contractors. Together, these generate an annual economic impact estimated at over $12.7 billion across the tri-county region (insert specific Charleston County specific data). This robust ecosystem is anchored by indispensable federal assets, such as Joint Base Charleston (JBC), a hub for global mobility and logistics.

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largest military presence in the State of South Carolina.

$ 0 B

in defense contracts obligated in Charleston County in fiscal year 2025.

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service members, federal employees, dependents, and retirees across the four installations of Joint Base Charleston.

Booz Allen Hamilton

CACI International

Chugach Government Solutions

Collins Machine Works

Davis Defense Group

Elbit Systems of America

Ignite Digital Services

KBR

KEEL

Mandex

Mission Solutions Group

Orbis Inc

Ripple Two

SAIC

Scientific Research Corporation

TIGHITCO

Testimonials

“DES is excited to expand our engineering and prototype manufacturing operations in Charleston County. Operations have grown year over year for a decade. This growth can be attributed to the business-friendly environment and technically capable workforce of South Carolina and Charleston County.”

Bob Cole, Managing Principal Defense Engineering Services (DES)

Testimonials

“Davis Defense Group, Inc. is pleased to grow our presence in Charleston with the opening of our new, expanded office space. Our team has proudly supported NIWC-LANT and the Marine Corps in Charleston for over five years, and this new facility reflects our commitment to the region’s growing defense sector. With an excellent reputation for world-class service in command, control, communications, computers, cyber-defense, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems support, DDG has formed long-lasting partnerships with our customers, teammates and employees. We are excited to create new connections as we continue to expand our footprint in Charleston County.”

Kristi Wilder, CEO Davis Defense Group

Close-up of a technician's hands working on the internal circuitry of an electronic device in a lab setting.

Mission-Ready Talent

Charleston County is home to one of the highest concentrations of military retirees and veterans in the country. This pipeline provides a steady stream of highly skilled, security-cleared professionals with expertise in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and systems integration.

Meet Our Workforce

A large warehouse interior filled with rows of black industrial equipment carts on wheels.

Seamlessly Move Mission-Critical Assets

Position your operations within a world-class logistical hub featuring the deepest harbor on the East Coast and integrated access to Class I rail and air transport. Our multimodal infrastructure is purpose-built to handle high-stakes defense requirements, ensuring that whether you are shipping heavy equipment or sensitive technology, your supply chain remains agile and secure.

Global Accessibility

01 / U.S. Air Force

Charleston is the largest C-17 Globemaster III base on the East Coast. The 437th Airlift Wing and 315th Airlift Wing (Reserve) provide rapid global mobility, flying everything from armored vehicles to humanitarian supplies worldwide.

Joint Base Charleston

02 / Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic

A pillar of Charleston’s tech economy, NIWC Atlantic is a Navy information technology engineering facility. It focuses on cybersecurity, complex systems integration, and communications to provide a decisive information advantage for the warfighter.

NIWC

03 / U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston

Responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection, Sector Charleston oversees one of the nation's busiest commercial ports and hosts the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy.

USCG

Military & Defense -
Strategic Hub for National Security

Military & Defense in Charleston County by the Numbers

Booz Allen Hamilton

CACI International

Chugach Government Solutions

Collins Machine Works

Davis Defense Group

Elbit Systems of America

Ignite Digital Services

KBR

KEEL

Mandex

Mission Solutions Group

Orbis Inc

Ripple Two

SAIC

Scientific Research Corporation

TIGHITCO

Testimonials

Testimonials

Mission-Ready Talent

Leverage a Workforce Defined by Service and Skill

Seamlessly Move Mission-Critical Assets

Multimodal Connectivity

Strategic Defense Assets

01 / U.S. Air Force

Charleston is the largest C-17 Globemaster III base on the East Coast. The 437th Airlift Wing and 315th Airlift Wing (Reserve) provide rapid global mobility, flying everything from armored vehicles to humanitarian supplies worldwide.

02 / Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic

A pillar of Charleston’s tech economy, NIWC Atlantic is a Navy information technology engineering facility. It focuses on cybersecurity, complex systems integration, and communications to provide a decisive information advantage for the warfighter.

03 / U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston

Responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection, Sector Charleston oversees one of the nation's busiest commercial ports and hosts the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy.

Charleston County on the Move

Charleston County on the Move

Charleston County on the Move

Charleston County on the Move

Charleston County on the Move

Military & Defense - Strategic Hub for National Security

Military & Defense in Charleston County by the Numbers

Booz Allen Hamilton

CACI International

Chugach Government Solutions

Collins Machine Works

Davis Defense Group

Elbit Systems of America

Ignite Digital Services

KBR

KEEL

Mandex

Mission Solutions Group

Orbis Inc

Ripple Two

SAIC

Scientific Research Corporation

TIGHITCO

Testimonials

Testimonials

Mission-Ready Talent

Leverage a Workforce Defined by Service and Skill

Seamlessly Move Mission-Critical Assets

Multimodal Connectivity

Strategic Defense Assets

01 / U.S. Air Force

Charleston is the largest C-17 Globemaster III base on the East Coast. The 437th Airlift Wing and 315th Airlift Wing (Reserve) provide rapid global mobility, flying everything from armored vehicles to humanitarian supplies worldwide.

02 / Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic

A pillar of Charleston’s tech economy, NIWC Atlantic is a Navy information technology engineering facility. It focuses on cybersecurity, complex systems integration, and communications to provide a decisive information advantage for the warfighter.

03 / U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston

Responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection, Sector Charleston oversees one of the nation's busiest commercial ports and hosts the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy.

Military & Defense -
Strategic Hub for National Security