Defense Innovation Pathways

Rose Rock Bridge is a non-profit venture studio that collaborates with emerging companies to address the critical challenges of its corporate partners. By identifying key technology focus areas with industry leaders, it sources cutting-edge innovations from research universities and selects high-potential startups for its support programs, aiming to pilot, scale, and integrate solutions within its corporate network.

Led by Accenture and Cherokee Federal, the TARMAC Demonstration Center will centralize technical services, equipment, advanced training, and resources for smaller regional manufacturers to help them scale and develop autonomous systems and component manufacturing capabilities.

The University of Tulsa offers interdisciplinary AI minor courses for a broad range of students both on campus and from Tulsa-area high schools.

This sub-initiative creates dedicated laboratory and office space, a high-bay facility, and an auditorium in support of a Fellowship program to allow students to pursue a flexible advanced degree pathway in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or materials engineering, focused on AAM.It is designed to feed into a companion commercialization program.

Using input from local employers, Tulsa Community College (TCC) will create a new software development and computer engineering certificate program that provides a pathway into two- and four-year degree programs in the region and provides students with industry exposure through on-the-job-training.

This initiative aims to increase enrollment in Tulsa Community College’s (TCC) engineering technology, electrical technician, and aerospace drafting certificate programs, thereby expanding the region’s skilled workforce to support advanced mobility industries.

This sub-initiative creates dedicated laboratory and office space, a high-bay facility, and an auditorium in support of commercialization of research produced by entrepreneurial graduate students through a support system with access to mentors, an investor network and funding, and an industry consortium.It is designed to be fed from a companion faculty and educational fellowship program.

The Supply Chain Analysis Program (SCAP) is a data-driven initiative to identify applicable autonomous component manufacturing opportunities, translating these opportunities into the Tulsa landscape by strategically identifying capable or near-capable small and medium-sized manufacturers.​

The Defense Innovation Pathways initiative will establish a contracting pathway for cybersecure startups to enter defense supply chains, showcasing autonomous system innovations and securing government contracts. It is focused on helping Tulsa-based companies expand access to DOD contracts, including Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements, thereby strengthening Tulsa’s role in national security.

Supports students in technology, engineering, and applied sciences at Tulsa-area institutions through academic guidance, career development, and industry connections. Managed by the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, it aligns training with industry needs, offering upskilling and on-the-job experience to prepare students for careers in autonomous technologies.

Target the appropriate startup, Department of Defense contractors, and corporate end users to utilize the additional specific testing capabilities of Skyway Range.

Provides targeted recruitment and wraparound services, including career coaching, job readiness training, and technology support to students in Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility cluster programs.These services help workers successfully transition into advanced mobility careers by solving for the challenges which inhibit education success.

PartnerTulsa leads community engagement efforts to raise awareness and enthusiasm for Advanced Aerial Mobility, reaching Tulsans of all ages and backgrounds. Through youth outreach, mid-career programs, and long-term tracking, the initiative aims to develop and evaluate effective strategies for exposing the community to advanced mobility technologies and career opportunities.

OCII aims to attract top cyber talent, develop workforce pipelines, and expand research and commercialization efforts in Oklahoma. Led by the University of Tulsa (TU), a national leader in cybersecurity education and research, OCII will enhance applied and translational research, tech transfer, and commercialization infrastructure, positioning Oklahoma as a cybersecurity innovation hub.

Led by both the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, the Technical Assistance program is designed to develop a strong pipeline of potential clients and connecting them with technical assistance available through the program.

Led by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), GreenUAS is a cybersecurity certification program that assesses the security risks of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and ensures compliance with NIST standards for commercial and government use. The University of Tulsa conducts cyber assessments, while Oklahoma State University provides hardware teardown services of the aircraft.

Integrates drone assembly, programming, and FAA Part 107 flight training to prepare students for in-demand drone operations and manufacturing jobs.A 40-hour hybrid program led by Tulsa Tech and supported by recruitment and wraparound services; the program provides students with a certification that serves as a direct recruitment channel for Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance’s (OMA) apprenticeship programs.

In collaboration with the Technical Assistance Program led by Oklahoma Manufacturing alliance, this initiative aims to open new financing opportunities to grow and create a more resilient domestic autonomous systems supply chain. It will develop a robust pipeline of potential borrowers for the AAM and UAS industry and ensure small businesses can qualify based upon lending criteria.

Alongside Tulsa Innovation Lab’s Workforce Intermediary, the Labor Market Observatory (LMO) tracks workforce trends, providing real-time data on job demand, skill requirements in fast-evolving industries, and regional shortages. This data-driven approach helps align educational programs with industry needs, ensuring a skilled workforce to support Tulsa’s leadership in advanced industries such as autonomous systems.

Headed by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and accredited by the US Department of Labor, the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a nationally recognized apprenticeship model that uses technical assistance, tax credits and quality programming to build entry-level talent for employers that is equivalent to an Associate's degree. ​

Black Tech Street’s Greenwood AI Center of Excellence initiatives will establish an AI Co-Innovation Lab at Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton (GEM) to support startups, companies, and individuals nationwide.This lab will provide access to Microsoft’s leading AI technologies and expertise, fostering innovation, commercialization, and community engagement.

Build a state of the art beyond visual line of sight flight test range that bridges the urban-rural divide, making Tulsa a destination for testing advanced mobility technology.

An expansion of an existing collaboration to allow students to earn an associate degree in engineering from Tulsa Community College (TCC) and then transition seamlessly to Oklahoma State University-Tulsa (OSU-Tulsa) for a bachelor’s degree. The goal is to develop a stronger engineering talent pipeline to support advanced mobility, aerospace, and autonomous systems industries in the Tulsa region.

A vocational learning model that upskills new hires and existing workers in autonomous systems specialties. Through industry-designed, hands-on training in areas like machine learning and systems programming, T-CAP ensures participants gain practical experience to meet the evolving demands of the autonomous systems industry.

A community-focused initiative aimed at expanding Greenwood’s AI capacity through education, training, and computing resources. Centered at Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton, ASPIRE will position Tulsa as a leader in AI thought leadership and technology development by hosting national speakers, networking events, and AI skill training opportunities for the Greater Tulsa Region.

A connector between industry demands and workforce development through partnerships among educational institutions, employers, and community organizations.Its primary purpose is to align training programs with the evolving needs of the autonomous systems sector, ensuring that the local talent pool is equipped with relevant skills.

Accelerate the development and deployment of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) technologies by creating a globally unique, complex, and secure testing environment at Skyway Range.