A recent retiree has successfully transitioned to entrepreneurship, building growing businesses in Vicksburg and Brandon, Mississippi. Victor Medina, an environmental engineer, has turned his vision into reality by developing innovative solutions to address water and environmental challenges. After retiring from the federal government, Medina chose to remain in Mississippi, leveraging the robust network of partners at the Thad Cochran Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology (MCITy) in Vicksburg to accelerate his entrepreneurial ventures.
With MCITy’s support, Medina has reduced costs and advanced his work, founding two distinct businesses: Medina Environmental Consulting & Solutions and Medina Doyle Technologies.
These companies provide advanced capabilities for military and civil sectors, including:
• Mobile water treatment and testing solutions
• Innovations in using grasses to slow contaminant migration in soil
• Development of graphene oxide membranes for water filtration
• Application of ammonia gas to stimulate alkaline hydrolysis, degrading various contaminants
Medina’s success has been bolstered by key MCITy partners. ERDCWERX, a partnership intermediary of ERDC, has provided access to project and licensing opportunities, regional and national resources, and funding consideration. Through its no-cost portal, ERDCWERX has facilitated over $53 million in ERDC funding awards to Mississippi industries and academia. Additionally, the Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach, the Mississippi Research Consortium, and MCITy business tenant Broadway Ventures have provided invaluable resources and expertise to support Medina’s work.
Medina has secured a 2025 project award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory to enhance his approaches for water treatment. He was also accepted into the 2025 AIPowered Business Accelerator, hosted by the Mississippi AI Agency, and invited to the 2025 Encountering Innovation Conference, focused on connecting with the Department of Defense.
Together, ERDCWERX and MCITy partners are driving innovation in Mississippi, fostering collaboration across industry, academia, and government, and supporting entrepreneurs like Medina to create impactful solutions.
