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Dozens of events across the country and in Washington, D.C. during National Aerospace Week (Sept. 11-17) called attention to the contributions of aerospace and defense to our economy and national security. Aerospace and defense programs are being eyed to reduce the nation's debt, with defense spending already targeted for $460 billion in cuts.
 The formation of the supercommittee with a mandate to find $1.5 trillion in savings by mid-November puts even more pressure on our industry. That budgetary environment provided a singular focus for AIA's activities during National Aerospace Week, including the official launch of the Second to None campaign (see story below.)
Read more about the week below including the Supplier Management Council "March to the Hill," the first-ever STEM day as well as the other events that made the week a success.
 The Second to None campaign was officially launched at a press briefing at the National Press Club during National Aerospace Week. More than two dozen media representatives attended the briefing, which featured a panel of AIA executives.
AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey led off the briefing, followed by remarks by AIA Chairman Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes; AIA Vice Chairman David P. Hess, president of Pratt & Whitney; AIA Executive Committee members Charles A. Gray, vice president and COO of Frontier Electronic Systems; Dawne S. Hickton, vice chair, president and CEO of RTI International Metals, Inc.; and Richard McNeel, president and CEO of LORD Corporation.
For more information on the launch, watch the video and read this month's Perspective. Visit Second to None to get involved.
AIA Chairman Jim Albaugh urged government to take the steps to ensure America remains "a great country that does great things," in a speech before the Aero Club of Washington during National Aerospace Week.
The Aerospace Industries Association awarded the Wings of Liberty trophy to Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) Tuesday, September 13. The award was made in recognition of Murray's longtime support of the aerospace industry. Held in conjunction with National Aerospace Week, the event was attended by other members of Congress and their staff, executives from AIA member companies and others with ties to the aerospace industry.
On September 12, the NextGen Institute hosted its annual public meeting in tandem with the JPDO Industry Day. The joint event titled, "A Public-Private Dialogue on NextGen," was held at the Transportation Department in Washington, D.C., where approximately 100 attendees gathered to hear senior-level representatives from government and industry address a wide range of NextGen topics.
Trade and its importance to jobs and the economy was the subject of National Aerospace Week's Senate Aerospace Luncheon on Wednesday, September 14. The guest speaker was U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk.
Emerging Aerospace Technologies was the topic of last week's House Aerospace luncheon. House Aerospace Caucus co-chairs Pete Olson (R-Texas) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) made brief introductory remarks. During the lunch, NASA Associate Administrator for Aerodynamics Dr. Jaiwon Shin highlighted competitiveness concerns for the U.S. aerospace industry but also pointed out the promise of hypersonic technology.
The highlight of National Aerospace Week's STEM Day on Wednesday was the first annual congressional reception sponsored by the Business and Industry STEM Education Coalition. More than 200 people attended the event to celebrate Youth in Science, Engineering and Technology.
On Saturday, September 17, the National Reconnaissance Office held its 50th anniversary celebration during National Aerospace Week at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Honoring the pioneering men and women who have contributed to our nation's security, the NRO unveiled two Cold War-era imagery satellites to a packed audience of more than 4,000. AIA helped coordinate the event.
The reigning Team America Rocketry Challenge Champions from Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, visited Washington D.C. during National Aerospace Week.
Nearly 100 members attended AIA's Fall Supplier Management Council Meeting in Washington, D.C. September 12-14. Members participated in discussions with Jim Albaugh, chairman of AIA and president and CEO of Commercial Airplanes at Boeing; Frank Kendall, principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics; and Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.).
The virtual opener of AIA's National Aerospace Week enticed 75 registrants representing 27 AIA member companies with the second installation of the AIA Environmental, Health and Safety Committee webinar series, "Integrating EHS into Corporate Operating Systems." The webinar focused on the experience of two aerospace companies as they integrate EHS parameters into their respective organizations' business processes.
Membership in AIA has continued to expand with six new companies joining in September. Full membership has increased more than 50 percent since January 2010 and including associate members, there are nearly 350 member companies in the association.
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