S

Developing consequential AI technologies for Golden Dome Missile

Camgian, one of the only key defense companies based in Mississippi, has been providing innovative AI and machine learning defense technology solutions to the military for nearly 20 years. The company specializes in AI-driven kill chain automation across multi-domain warfighting functions, from air and missile defense and counter-unmanned aerial systems to space, delivering faster, more precise engagements ensuring rapid threat detection, informed decision-making and decisive action when it matters most. 

Camgian Founder and CEO, Dr. Gary Butler, said kill chain automation serves as a “copilot” for command-and-control systems, empowering air defense operators to dramatically enhance mission effectiveness in contested environments characterized by hypersonic weapons, drone swarms and advanced missile threats.

Recently, Camgian reached another major milestone by being awarded a position on a contract to develop the proposed Golden Dome missile defense project. Butler said the Systems, Hardware, Integration, Enhanced Logistics, and Development (SHIELD) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle provides the Missile Defense Agency with access to a broad pool of industry partners capable of delivering engineering, integration, cybersecurity, IT modernization and mission support solutions. 

“We are very excited about our recent selection for the SHIELD program,” said Butler. “This selection positions Camgian to compete for future task orders that strengthen missile defense, enhance resilience, and accelerate mission readiness across critical defense programs. We’re developing some of the most consequential and important AI technologies for air missile defense right here in Mississippi.”

The $151-billion SHIELD IDEQ is described by the Department of War as a contract framework that enables the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter, emphasizing the use of AI and machine learning, digital engineering, open systems architectures, and agile acquisition and sustainment processes. 

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) said he is pleased to see that Starkville’s own Camgian was added to the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD contract and is now part of the Golden Dome for America team. “This is another great example of how Mississippi is leading the revitalization of our defense industry and creating jobs for hard-working Americans eager to support the defense of our nation,” said Wicker. 

Mark Bennett, Chief Growth Officer of Camgian, said the award is a natural extension of the company’s daily work delivering AI-enabled solutions that place decision advantage in the hands of the warfighter. “Our team brings deep expertise in kill chain automation, sensor fusion, and AI/ML-driven decision aids, and we look forward to applying that expertise to help the Missile Defense Agency meet the evolving demands of missile defense,” said Bennett.

Camgian’s core competency in AI-enabled kill chain automation positions the company uniquely within the SHIELD vehicle. Through its flagship platform, Reactor®, Camgian delivers modular, open-architecture software designed to detect, track, identify and defeat air and missile threats in real time. Built on reinforcement learning, multi-modal sensor fusion and adaptive AI models, Reactor® integrates seamlessly with existing and next-generation command-and-control, sensor, and effector systems—accelerating engagement timelines and reducing cognitive burden on operators. These capabilities align directly with the Missile Defense Agency’s emphasis on leveraging artificial intelligence, digital engineering and open systems architectures to modernize missile defense.

Typically, when people think of this kind of work, they think about companies based in Silicon Valley or research labs in Northern Virginia. “Camgian is building advanced AI technology that is enhancing the future of air missile defense, and we are doing that in Mississippi,” said Butler. 

All things related to air defense are growing increasingly more sophisticated. This type of work has traditionally been dominated by the industry’s largest prime contractors, established defense integrators known for handling complex, multi-domain integration efforts. 

“Large companies don’t tend to innovate very quickly,” said Butler. “For us to be able to innovate new and advanced technologies that meet very dynamic and changing threat conditions is one of our advantages as an organization. We have abilities to make very fast decisions and deliver reliable software to our customers at a speed that’s very difficult for large companies. When you look at what’s happening today in Ukraine and in other places around the world, the threat conditions change very fast. To meet those threats, we have to be very dynamic and move extremely fast. Our being a small and agile company is really an advantage.”

Butler grew up in Mississippi. After graduating from Pearl High School, he went to work in the defense industry in Washington D.C. where he cut his teeth developing advanced technologies for the U.S. military. After being there for many years, Butler took a leap starting Camgian in Mississippi after he saw firsthand the need for faster, more innovative technology solutions in defense. Having a strong relationship with Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville made it attractive to locate at the university’s Thad Cochran Research Technology and Development Park.

“It has been a great move,” said Butler.  “The state has been very supportive of Camgian. And, it has been a real passion of mine to demonstrate we have the talent in our state to successfully develop software solutions to help our warfighters. Being located at the research park has advantages from the standpoint of being able to recruit highly skilled engineers from the Bagley College of Engineering. We’ve been very fortunate to be able to recruit some of the top technical talent out of Mississippi that are directly involved in these very important national defense programs.” 

Kevin Tingley, Camgian Vice President of Products and Services, said the company supports the state’s growing innovation economy and strengthens Mississippi’s role in national defense technology. 

“Camgian is part of the evolution from traditional hardware-centric defense work to high-tech, software-driven solutions that provide AI-enabled capabilities for the warfighter,” said Tingley. “Camgian is a model for how Mississippi can retain talent, grow its tech economy and contribute to critical national missions. Camgian has a mandate to rapidly prototype and evaluate novel ideas in ways that surpass traditional development constraints.” 

Camgian’s high regard within the state is indicated by it being recognized by the Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi as the recipient of the 2025 ADAM Aerospace and Defense Company of the Year Award.

The company has also expanded to several other key locations. Camgian now has offices in Tuscaloosa, Ala., at Fort Sill located in Lawton, Okla., and a recently opened new facility in Huntsville outside of the Redstone Arsenal. The company has a large number of clients in Huntsville, so the expansion fits squarely in its business lane. 

Another recent development that indicates the high regard for Camgian is that Butler has been appointed to the newly formed Department of War (DoW) Science, Technology, and Innovation Board (STIB), which merges the former Defense Innovation Board and Defense Science Board into a unified advisory body charged with solving complex national security problems for the Secretary of War, the Deputy Secretary of War, the Under Secretaries of War, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior Department officials. In this role, Butler will collaborate with leading scientists and industry experts to study a breadth of cutting-edge science and technology and related policy issues critical to national security.