The Gulfport office will serve as a center of excellence for Integer’s development of operational decision-support tools designed for autonomous systems operating in complex undersea environments. This expansion represents a significant commitment to the state of Mississippi, as Integer plans to continue growing its local workforce and keep high-skill, high-salary roles in the Magnolia State.
“Integer’s presence in Gulfport is a major milestone for our company and a testament to our commitment to Mississippi,” said Josh Knight, COO and co-founder of Integer. “We are grateful to Senators Wicker and Hyde-Smith, the entire Mississippi delegation, Dr. Paul, and the south Mississippi community for supporting this expansion. By working alongside USM’s world-class ocean scientists, we are creating opportunities for Mississippians to lead in high-tech fields right in their hometowns, providing a pipeline for students to contribute to national security while building their careers.”
The Wicker Center offers direct ocean access, allowing Integer’s Gulfport-based engineers to conduct immediate in-water testing in the Gulf of America. This strategic location fosters a highly collaborative environment between university researchers and industry experts.
“Mississippi is central to America’s defense innovation resurgence,” said Senator Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Integer Technologies and the University of Southern Mississippi will make a great team. They will strengthen the Navy’s technological edge, create new economic opportunities in Gulfport, and help modernize the American arsenal.”
“The Navy’s investment in cutting-edge seabed warfare technology in Mississippi reflects well on the critical role our state continues to play in advancing our national security,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “The partnership between Integer Technologies and The University of Southern Mississippi will not only strengthen our nation’s naval capabilities but also bring high-skill jobs and research opportunities to the Gulf Coast. I’m proud to support initiatives that strengthen Mississippi’s position as a leader in defense innovation.”
USM leadership echoed the significance of the partnership in driving both scientific and economic progress.
“Southern Miss is leading the way in marine research and positioning the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a top-tier blue economy hub by building an innovation infrastructure,” Paul said. “By establishing operations at the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise, Integer Technologies is bringing highly sought-after jobs to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and creating a technology ecosystem that will attract additional partners and investments. Southern Miss is proud to demonstrate the success of a university-industry partnership in driving both scientific advancement and economic development across the Gulf Coast region.”
The grand opening follows the recent announcement that Integer was awarded a $10.6 million option exercise contract modification from the Office of Naval Research to continue its Intelligent Autonomous Systems for Seabed Warfare joint effort with USM. This modification brings the total cumulative value of the contract to $24.8 million. The program focuses on developing operational decision-support tools and edge-deployed software that allow unmanned platforms to adapt their missions in real time, significantly extending their operational duration in complex undersea environments.
