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MADISON, Wis. – The same person who embodies political friction over America’s defense structure was the same Pentagon leader who visited Oshkosh late last month to highlight Wisconsin’s role in bolstering it.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a focus of criticism over the Iran war and under fire by some in Congress, toured the Oshkosh Corp. in late August as part of the nationwide “Arsenal of Freedom” tour.

Hegseth examined advanced military vehicles, took a test drive and made the case that domestic defense production is more effective if integrated into commercial manufacturing at home versus stand-alone contractors or outsourced overseas.

Exhibit A is Oshkosh Corp., which has built military hardware for 80 years but relies mostly on commercial sales of emergency equipment, access vehicles and specialty trucks, to cite a few examples. Less than one-fifth of the company’s business is tied to federal contracts.

“We need more (Oshkosh Corporations) in America,” Hegseth said. “We don’t have the helmets without the hardhats; we don’t have the warriors without the workers.”

It wouldn’t be Pete Hegseth if his speech didn’t include a few barbs to rile up his detractors (“no more DEI … no more trannies, just training”) but it was a reminder that Wisconsin has historic strengths in manufacturing. The state also has complementary expertise in energy, computing, agriculture and health research, each with defense as well as commercial value.

Wisconsin also has active military bases, training facilities and a strategic location on the Great Lakes with ties to shipbuilding, transportation and testing. Most of those attributes are often overlooked – even by people who live in Wisconsin.

If the Wisconsin Security Research Consortium and its partners are successful, Wisconsin will lever those resources in a way that attracts more defense spending that aligns with commercial and research priorities.

The WSRC was launched by the Wisconsin Technology Council and others nearly 20 years ago with emerging cybersecurity threats in mind. Today it’s part of the UW-Madison due to the university’s nationally prominent research and its ability to form larger partnerships.

The WSRC and partners have applied for “Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub” status, which could help coordinate the state’s defense assets in ways similar to what’s happening in states such as Minnesota.

“Wisconsin builds things for defense already: ships, vehicles, sensors, software and has the industrial base behind them,” said Dave Schroeder, director of national security initiatives at the UW-Madison. “What we’re missing is the state’s front door.”

“Front doors,” or hubs, exist in eight other states, including Minnesota, where the $1.1 billion Minnesota Aerospace Complex is being built with a mix of industry, academic and non-profit partners. Health research is a significant partner there, with the Mayo Clinic adding its weight to the University of Minnesota.

An existing military presence is part of what successful applicants need, and Wisconsin checks that box with Fort McCoy, Volk Field, Truax Field and the 115th Fighter Wing, Mitchell Field and the Wisconsin National Guard. Schroeder thinks industry support, diverse research and private partners will enhance Wisconsin’s effort.

“One of the real ‘wins’ will be commercial applications down the road,” he said.

There’s no published deadline for when the Defense Innovation Unit, which is part of the Defense Department, will decide on this round of “OnRamp Hub” applications. A meeting of partners, including UW-Madison’s vice chancellor for research and its engineering dean, is taking place Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Hegseth has invited congressional criticism over the conduct of the Iran war and his firing or demotion of about 80 generals and admirals. He’s also pushing for a major increase in defense spending in the face of a rising national debt. Most recently, he drew fire when the Army ordered a specialized drone unit in Europe to return to airborne infantry duty.

Whether Hegseth weathers his various storms is a matter for conjecture. However, the Defense Innovation Unit was founded in 2015 on President Obama’s watch and appears to have staying power. The state’s “OnRamp Hub” bid makes sense – but election-year politics might help Wisconsin’s case, too.

Still is past president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He is an adviser to Competitive Wisconsin Inc., a non-profit public policy group.