"Quantum Has Arrived in Huntsville:" A Milestone Moment for National Security Innovation
- David Wood
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 28
(HUNTSVILLE, AL)– “Quantum has arrived in Huntsville...”
With those opening words, Davidson Technologies President and CEO Dale Moore marked a historic milestone: the unveiling of Alabama’s first on-premises annealing quantum computer.
During a private VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony at Davidson’s Huntsville headquarters on April 23, Davidson and D-Wave Quantum Inc. commemorated the completion of the physical installation of a D-Wave Advantage2™ system—a powerful annealing quantum computer that, for Davidson, represents the next phase of national defense innovation.
The event brought together dignitaries from federal and state offices, leaders from the defense and aerospace sectors, and leadership from D-Wave and Davidson. Attendees heard remarks from Davidson CEO Dale Moore, D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz, and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, each underscoring the significance of this new capability—not only for Davidson, but for the broader defense community and the city of Huntsville.
New Chapter in Defense Technology
“This is not a TV show. This is real,” Moore said. “We have the first quantum computer in the history of the state of Alabama in our facility, ready to go operational.”
As he traced Huntsville’s legacy of innovation—from the Apollo program to missile defense systems—Moore positioned the installation as the next logical step for a city long at the forefront of national defense. Davidson’s investment in the Advantage2 system is part of a broader strategy to explore hybrid quantum-classical solutions for mission-critical problems: rapid decision-making, asset tracking, sensor scheduling, and multi-domain operational optimization.
“This milestone is more than symbolic,” Moore added. “We believe it represents a step-change in how quantum technology can be deployed, evaluated, and applied to defense missions that require precision, scale, and speed.”
The Most Powerful Quantum Computer in the World
D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz put it plainly: “This is the most powerful quantum computer in the world.”
Baratz emphasized the scale of the achievement: the Advantage2 system installed at Davidson is not yet generally available and is the first of its kind installed outside of D-Wave’s research facilities.
“We recently showed that this system performed an important, useful computation that cannot be solved by classical computers—full stop,” Baratz said. “And it did so in minutes. The same task would take the world’s fastest supercomputer well over a million years and would consume more energy than the world uses in a year.”
That computation, focused on simulating magnetic material properties, marks a turning point in the conversation around quantum’s practical utility. With the system now in Huntsville, Davidson and D-Wave are poised to begin exploring quantum applications for U.S. national security programs—including sensitive applications that will run within secure environments.
Huntsville: America’s Quantum Frontier
“Huntsville is home to world-class research universities and innovative companies—and now, thanks to Davidson and D-Wave, we’ll also be the site of Alabama’s first quantum computer,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “This cutting-edge system places our city at the forefront of delivering advanced technological solutions.”
Mayor Battle called the system a new “center of excellence” for the region, one that will augment Huntsville’s leadership in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.
Additional key partners also weighed in with support for the vision.
“Davidson’s investment in its business extends beyond the walls of its headquarters,” said Sara Beth Wilcox, Vice President and Division Manager at Brasfield & Gorrie, who managed construction for the quantum facility. “It’s also a benefit to its clients and the surrounding community.”
“Redstone Gateway was designed to support innovation at the highest levels,” added James Lomax, Vice President of Asset Management and Leasing at COPT Defense Properties. “Davidson’s partnership with D-Wave exemplifies the kind of mission-critical investment we are proud to support.”
Looking Ahead
The Advantage2 system now enters final calibration and readiness testing. In the months ahead, Davidson and D-Wave will begin applying the system to a range of government-focused pilot efforts and research collaborations.
“This is the beginning of how quantum gets applied to solve problems,” Moore said. “I expect big things from Davidson, D-Wave, and the Huntsville community.”
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