York, PA – July 21, 2025 – The Manufacturers’ Association is proud to announce the expansion and new designation from the US Navy’s Talent Pipeline Project (TPP) as the Central PA Regional TPP Network, a major milestone in supporting the US Navy’s effort to rebuild the maritime workforce industrial base by improving talent acquisition, retention and coaching of participating manufacturers.
This new “regional” designation is an expansion of the current regional Talent Pipeline Program coaching network, which was established in 2023 with the Manufacturers’ Association as a branch of the program’s Philadelphia Flag. This new designation will be the first pilot in the nation for a Regional Association Network under the Navy’s program. The Central PA Regional Network will now serve as a local hub under the leadership of the TPP Philadelphia Flag, focusing on workforce development, training, and employer engagement across the Central PA region. This will result in increased local events, workshops, coaching, and networking opportunities for the employers in the defense industrial base.
“This is a huge win for Central Pennsylvania,” said Tom Palisin, Executive Director, Manufacturers’ Association, “We’re bringing opportunity closer to home, building stronger connections, and giving our local manufacturers the visibility and direct line to the Navy and the national defense supply chain. This is more than a network, it’s a movement to rebuild America’s industrial strength from the ground up.”
Joe Barto, the national program leader of the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program, said: “The U.S. Navy’s Talent Pipeline Program is built on collaboration, innovation, a shared commitment to national security and a belief that small and medium-sized manufacturers are driving the American manufacturing economy. The Manufacturers’ Association’s regional industry connections and proven training strategies will help elevate the program, delivering a measurable impact by training, coaching, encouraging, and recognizing Employers to improve the performance of their Talent Acquisition and Retention Systems, run a better business, and support the increasing regional maritime and defense sector demands.”
The Talent Pipeline Program directly addresses the U.S. Navy’s growing manufacturing production requirements by ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled talent to deliver and sustain Columbia and Virginia-class submarines, aircraft carriers, surface combatants, and vessels currently in service. This expanded initiative will reinforce U.S. naval capabilities and fortify national security in an increasingly complex global environment. TPP encourages current and future manufacturers’ in the maritime or defense industrial base to participate.
Join the Mission: We’re calling on all Central PA manufacturers with defense capabilities or aspirations to be part of this growing Central PA network.
For more information on the Talent Pipeline Program or to get your manufacturing company involved, contact office@mascpa.org.
