AUGUST 19, 2025
The Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) at the Adaptive Experimentation Facility at Fort Andrew recently welcomed Congresswoman Carol Miller, who represents West Virginia’s First Congressional District, including Clay County. Her visit on Thursday, August 14, 2025, highlighted the exciting progress being made in defense innovation right in West Virginia.
Highlights from the Visit
During her time at Fort Andrew, Congresswoman Miller:
- Took a guided tour of our current site and ongoing projects.
- Met with our talented STEM interns and learned about their hands-on innovation work.
- Toured the new Command Center facility to view construction progress.
- Learned about the new green space designed and built by our 2025 summer interns.
Building the Best
Upon her arrival at Fort Andrew last week, Congresswoman Miller and her team were welcomed by Walter “Wally” Hatfield, CMI2’s Vice President of Training and Experimentation, along with other staff members.
Following introductions, Wally delivered an overview of CMI2’s steadfast commitment to advancing adaptive experimentation and fostering innovation at the intersection of national defense, STEM education, and community-driven economic growth. As part of his briefing, he shared the latest DIRT Days recap video, underscoring the impact of the CMI2 initiatives at Fort Andrew in shaping the future of tactical innovation.
Following the presentation, Congresswoman Miller enjoyed a tour of the Operations Center, meeting the extended staff, and touring the Command Center construction, which is scheduled to open in FY26. This will significantly expand our adaptive experimentation capabilities.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
A key part of the visit included time focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, during which Congresswoman Miller toured the Fort Andrew Makerspace and discussed project priorities, also meeting the robotic dogs used in experimentation. She also visited with interns supporting a drone build project, gaining insight into how they are applying what they have learned in their training at Fort Andrew to real-world innovation.
In addition, Congresswoman Miller was briefed on the broader impact of the Fort Andrew Ignite internship program in Clay County and the company’s priority to strengthen opportunities for young innovators via the CMI2 ILLUME program.
Created in 2023, CMI2 ILLUME plays a particularly important role in supporting strong, stable communities by ensuring that education, innovation, and community development occur through dynamic, inclusive, and future-oriented program offerings.
Finally, Congresswoman Miller viewed the green space initiative developed by the 2025 summer interns. She learned about the design process and even sampled vegetables harvested from the site, including cucumbers and peppers. Located near the new Command Center, the Fort Andrew greenspace features four raised beds growing peppers, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Future plans include the addition of fruit trees, wildflower gardens, and a beekeeping area.
Note of Gratitude
We are grateful for Congresswoman Miller’s time, interest, and ongoing support of the mission CMI2 is leading in West Virginia. Thank you, Congresswoman Miller!
