Irvine, Calif. – With supply chain resilience now firmly at the top of Congress’ agenda, aerospace and defense supply chain leaders joined Congresswoman Young Kim in Southern California yesterday to discuss trade, critical minerals, and foreign policy issues. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) hosted its Supply Chain Summit at Parker Aerospace’s facility in Irvine, California, convening industry executives and policymakers for a focused discussion on the future of the aerospace and defense industrial base.
Congresswoman Kim is chair of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and represents California’s 40thcongressional district. Also in attendance at the summit was Small Business Administration (SBA) Pacific Regional Administrator Steven Snow, who highlighted SBA programs and tools to assist small businesses.
“This event gave our industry an opportunity to engage directly with Chairwoman Kim as she works to secure access for American business and drive U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Eric Fanning, AIA President & CEO. “Together with the Chairwoman and other Members of Congress, the Aerospace Industries Association is focused on advancing smart, effective policies that strengthen the aerospace and defense supply chain and protect the future of this vibrant industry.”
“It was an honor to join the Aerospace Industries Association Regional Summit to discuss my DOMINANCE Act, how we can strengthen America’s defense industrial base, and secure U.S. critical minerals supply chains for good,” said Rep. Kim. “The companies represented across Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties — from the Primes to the Small and Midsize businesses — are critical to our national security and economic strength. Conversations like these ensure Congress is a strong partner in keeping America safe and competitive.”
Now in its third year of expanded outreach, AIA’s supply chain engagement strategy emphasizes advocacy, collaboration, and connectivity with government. As part of this engagement program, the Southern California event provided a platform for manufacturers, operators, and technology providers to share insights on pressing issues such as trade and tariffs, defense funding, acquisition and foreign military sales reform, and workforce challenges and opportunities.
America’s aerospace and defense supply chain is a major driver of the U.S. economy – generating $438.7 billion in revenue in 2024 alone. The supply chain supports more than 1.1 million American jobs, accounting for over 59 percent of total industry employment, and is powered by an extensive nationwide network of thousands of small, medium, and large businesses.
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