ManTech’s latest acquisition signals just how quickly the race to operationalize AI across national security and commercial sectors is accelerating. By bringing Elder Research into the fold, a firm with three decades of applied data science under its belt, ManTech is doubling down on its strategy to deliver AI solutions that work not just in theory, but in the real world. Elder Research’s reputation rests on an unusually high implementation rate for AI projects, a standout metric in an industry where most efforts stall before they ever leave the lab. Their track record spans insider-threat detection, trade security analytics, predictive maintenance, and fraud detection, making them a natural fit for ManTech’s mission-focused portfolio.
For ManTech, the acquisition is as much about talent and culture as it is about technology. Folding Elder Research’s team into its Data and AI Practice gives the company added depth at a time when agencies and enterprises alike are looking for turnkey AI capabilities grounded in practical deployment experience. Leaders from both organizations emphasized the shared focus on ROI, operational integration, and preparing the next generation of AI practitioners. With this move, ManTech is positioning itself to expand its footprint across both government and commercial markets.
Layoffs: Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense is bracing for a significant workforce reduction, announcing plans to lay off 160 employees at its Oregon Street facility early next year. The move follows a tough third quarter for parent company Oshkosh Corporation, which reported a $52.8 million drop in sales compared to the same period last year. Overall consolidated sales landed at $2.69 billion, down nearly 2%, with the company pointing to lower sales volume in its Access segment as a primary factor.
For the national security industrial base, the cuts underscore how competitive contract landscapes and shifting demand can ripple through regional manufacturing hubs.
Hiring: Rheinmetall
Germany’s premier defense contractor Rheinmetall AG is tapping into a growing pool of laid-off automotive workers as it accelerates hiring to support expansive growth plans. Facing slowing demand in the automotive sector, Rheinmetall is drifting more deeply into manufacturing for defense markets and is optimistic about its hiring prospects. The company expects to receive over 275,000 applications worldwide in 2025, up from roughly 257,000 last year, reflecting both strong demand for jobs and its widening recruitment net.
The broader strategy appears tied to Rheinmetall’s ambitious forecast for sales growth, including plans to quintuple revenues by 2030, which requires expanding its workforce rapidly across plants and production sites. Rather than only seeking traditional defense industry hires, the company is actively recruiting former workers from Germany’s automotive industry, who often have transferable skills in manufacturing and assembly. Layoffs in familiar sectors like automotive are feeding talent into booming defense production as geopolitical tensions continue to shape government budgets and procurement.
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Opportunity to Watch
George Mason University and MetroStar are teaming up in a new multi-year partnership designed to strengthen the federal tech talent pipeline. More than 20 years after its founders launched MetroStar from a Mason dorm room, the company is returning to its roots with investments across the university’s business and engineering programs. The agreement includes new scholarships, among them a “Clearance Ready” award for students pursuing national security careers, as well as support for academic initiatives, hands-on research opportunities, and experiential learning tied to classified technologies and government missions.
Leaders from both Mason and MetroStar frame the partnership as a strategic response to the federal government’s accelerating demand for AI, digital transformation, and cleared technical talent. The collaboration also extends to innovation spaces like the Mason Innovation Exchange and events such as PatriotHacks, reinforcing a model that connects classroom learning to real-world national service. With MetroStar CEO and Mason alum Ali Reza Manouchehri serving as the university’s Winter Commencement speaker, the initiative underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to shaping the next generation of public-minded technologists.
