New Jersey Innovation Institute Achieves CMMC Level 2 Certification for Defense Work

New Jersey Innovation Institute achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2, the Newark-based nonprofit announced on November 4, 2026. The certification confirms that NJII's cybersecurity practices meet the 110 security requirements of NIST Special Publication 800-171 for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information. PR Newswire carried the announcement.

What the CMMC Level 2 Assessment Covered

New Jersey Innovation Institute is a nonprofit corporation of the New Jersey Institute of Technology that works with government, industry and academic partners on advanced manufacturing, defense, healthcare, artificial intelligence and technology commercialization. The certification followed an assessment of NJII's cybersecurity program, including access management, incident response, risk management, system security, asset protection, employee awareness and continuous monitoring.

"Achieving CMMC Level 2 certification reflects NJII's unwavering commitment to cybersecurity excellence and our mission to support defense, government, and industry partners with secure and trusted solutions," said Jennifer D'Angelo, Interim President at NJII.

Michael Grinaway, Senior Director of IT at NJII, said the certification shows the organization can meet stringent federal cybersecurity requirements while supporting government and industry partners. Thomas Murphy, Vice President of Defense at NJII, said the certification supports the National Defense Strategy's Line of Effort 4 on strengthening the Defense Industrial Base for secure, scalable defense production. NJII said the certification positions it to expand support for organizations navigating cybersecurity compliance and secure digital transformation.

NJII's Revenue and Defense Work

NJII has generated over $330 million in revenue during its ten years of operation since its founding in 2014, according to akta.pro company records. The same records list a revenue estimate of $25 million to $50 million and a headcount range of 51 to 100. The records also note that NJII manages Department of Defense advanced manufacturing programs and operates a Venture Studio that launches university intellectual property startups.

Certification Work Across Defense Suppliers

Other defense suppliers have announced qualification and funding milestones in recent days. izmo Microsystems qualified an indigenous pitch detector to MIL-PRF-38534 military standards, ScanX reported on November 3, 2026. Beacon AI received a prototype Other Transaction Authority from USSOCOM through the USAF TACFI program, with $3.8 million in research and development and $1.9 million in private capital totaling $5.7 million, PR Newswire reported on October 27, 2026.

NJII's Next Compliance Steps

NJII said the certification will support its work helping organizations navigate cybersecurity compliance requirements and advance secure digital transformation initiatives. The company's own announcement describes the certification as strengthening its position as a partner for organizations in highly regulated and mission-critical environments.