Community

The Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) is a nonprofit organization specializing in bridging critical gaps in defense innovation by creating functional solutions to support end-users via collaboration and engagement. CMI2 develops practical, end-user-focused solutions that enhance national security.

Five strategic pillars guide the CMI2 mission:

• Maximize engagement – Integrate the innovative capacities of the public and private sectors to address national security challenges.
• Empower frontline Soldiers – Collaborate directly with Soldiers to identify and solve real-world operational challenges.
• Advance prototyping and experimentation – Support innovation through specialized facilities and expert teams focused on testing and developing cutting-edge solutions.
• Drive innovation commercialization – Incubate emerging companies and facilitate the transfer and deployment of intellectual property.
• Enable economic development – Invest in the growth of economically challenged regions, recognizing their role in national security resilience.

While economic development and community engagement may seem distinct from traditional defense innovation, CMI2 views community stability as foundational to national security. Resilient, thriving communities are better equipped to withstand adversity, making them essential to a robust national defense infrastructure. CMI2’s commitment to supporting rural and economically disadvantaged communities is a strategic extension of its innovation-focused mission.

CMI2 engages middle and high school students, particularly in underserved areas, to cultivate the next generation of innovators by introducing them to real-world national security problems. These interdisciplinary programs span STEM, business, communications, marketing, and policy, emphasizing hands-on, collaborative problem-solving. This early exposure encourages students to see their potential to contribute meaningfully to global challenges, and reinforces that talent and ambition are unlimited by geography or circumstance.

At the heart of the CMI2 philosophy is the belief in tactical innovation or “Innovation in the Dirt.” By transforming frontline problems into viable technical solutions, immersive experimentation, and scalable programs, CMI2 continues to deliver impact that resonates across defense, education, and community sectors.