Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Mar 18, 2026] David Schild on the Comeback Factories Securing America’s Tech Future

Key Takeaways

• Documentary premieres March 25 in Washington, Capitol Hill
• PCB industry faces funding gaps, legislative push
• Domestic PCB makers need government support to scale
• Surge in weapons demand drives supply chain urgency
• PCB Association leads dialogue on national security

Summary

The Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast featured David Schild, executive director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, promoting the documentary "The New Frontier: Inside the Comeback Factories Securing America’s Tech Future," which premieres on March 25 in Washington. The discussion highlighted ongoing legislation and funding efforts aimed at strengthening the U.S. printed circuit board (PCB) industrial base and securing the full supply chain. Schild examined how domestic manufacturers can remain viable without extensive government subsidies and what is required to meet the heightened weapons production targets set by the previous administration. The conversation underscored the strategic role of PCBs in national defense.

Pulse Analysis

Printed circuit boards are the silent workhorses behind every modern defense system, from missile guidance units to secure communications gear. Over the past decade, the United States has grown increasingly dependent on overseas PCB manufacturers, exposing critical vulnerabilities in the defense supply chain. Recent policy directives, including the Trump administration’s call for a rapid expansion of weapons production, have intensified scrutiny of this dependency and sparked bipartisan legislative proposals to fund domestic PCB capacity, echoing broader CHIPS‑Act initiatives aimed at tech sovereignty.

The upcoming documentary, "The New Frontier," serves as both a public‑relations push and a policy catalyst, showcasing revitalized factories that are re‑tooling to meet defense‑grade specifications. By featuring interviews with industry leaders like David Schild, the film spotlights concrete examples of how targeted subsidies, tax incentives, and workforce training programs can jump‑start a resilient PCB ecosystem. Its Washington premiere is timed to coincide with key congressional hearings, positioning the narrative as a persuasive tool for lawmakers weighing the merits of increased appropriations for the sector.

Looking ahead, the PCB industry faces a crossroads: sustained government investment, coupled with private‑sector innovation, will be essential to scale production without sacrificing quality or security. Critical steps include expanding advanced material research, building a pipeline of skilled technicians, and establishing strategic stockpiles for high‑priority components. Achieving these goals would not only safeguard the United States’ defense readiness but also reinforce its leadership in the broader technology arena, where reliable, domestically sourced electronics are increasingly viewed as a national security imperative.