Wilder Industries Appoints Defense Acquisition and Government Contracting Leader Jamie Rhone to Advisory Board
Former U.S. Air Force contracting and legislative affairs leader brings extensive experience across defense acquisition, government-industry collaboration and emerging technology programs.
[Dallas, Texas] — [October 2, 2026] — Wilder Industries today announced the appointment of Jamie Rhone to its Advisory Board, adding deep experience in defense acquisition, government contracting and legislative affairs as the company continues expanding its manufacturing support for next-generation aerospace and defense programs.
Jamie brings extensive experience working at the intersection of government, industry and emerging defense technologies. Throughout his career, he has supported complex acquisition and contracting initiatives within the U.S. Air Force, has successfully scaled and exited a Defense company and has worked closely with government and industry stakeholders to help advance programs from concept toward execution.
His appointment strengthens Wilder Industries’ ability to understand the broader acquisition and production environment facing companies developing drones, autonomous systems, advanced airframes and other emerging aerospace and defense technologies.
“Building the next generation of defense technology requires more than a great design,” said Will Wilder, Founder and CEO of Wilder Industries. “Companies have to understand how to move from an innovative concept to something that can be manufactured, scaled and ultimately delivered to the customer. Jamie brings valuable experience from the government side of that equation, and his perspective will help us continue building Wilder around the realities our customers face.”
Bridging Innovation and Production
Across the defense industry, new technologies are being developed at an increasingly rapid pace. But moving from prototype development to repeatable production remains one of the most significant challenges for emerging aerospace and defense companies.
Manufacturing readiness can play a critical role in that transition.
For companies pursuing government and defense programs, decisions involving product design, materials, manufacturing processes, automation and supply chains can ultimately affect production cost, schedule and scalability.
Wilder Industries works with customers early in the development process through Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Automation (DFA) to help ensure products are designed not only to meet performance requirements, but also to be manufactured efficiently and repeatedly as demand increases.
“There’s tremendous innovation happening across the defense industrial base,” Wilder said. “The challenge is making sure that innovation can become production. Our goal is to give emerging companies a manufacturing partner that understands that transition and can help them prepare for scale from the beginning.”
Jamie’s background in defense acquisition and contracting adds another perspective to that mission, helping Wilder better understand the requirements, priorities and processes that influence how emerging technologies ultimately reach government customers.
Manufacturing for the Next Generation of Defense Programs
Wilder Industries is building an integrated manufacturing platform designed to support aerospace and defense companies throughout the transition from product development to scalable production.
The company’s capabilities include:
- Drone and autonomous systems manufacturing
- Airframe structures manufacturing
- Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
- Design for Automation (DFA)
- Hard metal machining
- Precision sheet metal fabrication
- CNC machining
- Robotic assembly
By bringing engineering collaboration, manufacturing and automation together under a more integrated model, Wilder aims to reduce production complexity while helping customers prepare their platforms for repeatable manufacturing at scale.
“The defense industry needs innovative companies that can move quickly, but it also needs a manufacturing base capable of turning those innovations into real, deployable systems,” said Rhone. “Wilder Industries is building capabilities specifically around that challenge, and I’m excited to contribute my experience as the company continues growing its role within the aerospace and Defense Industrial Base.”
Rhone joins a Wilder Industries Advisory Board that brings together experience spanning aerospace executive leadership, manufacturing engineering, military operations, sustainment, defense acquisition and government contracting.
Together, the group will advise Wilder Industries as the company expands its capabilities and partnerships supporting the next generation of aerospace and defense manufacturing.
About Wilder Industries
Wilder Industries is an advanced manufacturing company supporting the next generation of aerospace and defense companies. The company provides integrated manufacturing solutions spanning Design for Manufacturing, Design for Automation, precision sheet metal fabrication, hard metal and CNC machining, and robotic assembly.
Wilder Industries works with companies developing drones, autonomous systems, eVTOL aircraft, airframe structures and other advanced platforms, helping customers transition efficiently from product development to scalable production.
Media Contact
Ron Castro
Director Sales & Business Development | Wilder Systems Inc
Mobile: 206-953-9887 Dallas TX.