Blog

Budget Blog Series: Funding the U.S. Defense Industrial Base

It’s that time of year again when Congress sprints to finish allocating funding for the next fiscal year. Between continuing resolutions (CRs) and the risk of a government shutdown, the constantly in flux nature of this process is problematic for many areas of our government, but especially when it comes to our national defense. A healthy manufacturing and defense industrial base depends on robust and stable funding. Consistent defense budgets ena...

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USMCA: A Modern Agreement for the Digital Age

American aerospace products move people and goods around the world, make space exploration possible, and provide technological capabilities that impact daily life in countless ways. But how we move, connect, and live has changed dramatically over the last 25 years since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect. That is one of the overarching reasons why the American aerospace & defense (A&D) industry strongly supports the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (US...

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(Cyber)securing the Future of UAS Through Standards

We stand on precipice of a new era of aviation – one that will include drones and urban air mobility (UAM) revolutionizing the way goods are purchased, services are performed, and people are transported. The aerospace and defense industry is investing billions of dollars each year to ensure that the U.S. remains the global leader in this technology and that this vision for the future becomes a reality. But to get that future, we need more than just policy and smart regulations – we need...

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Apollo 11: Fueling the Future of Space Achievements

On this day, fifty years ago, the crew of Apollo 11 returned to Earth following their successful – and historic – landing on the moon. This mission means a lot to the Aerospace Industries Association. Many of our members played significant roles in making the first moon landing possible, and more than 370,000 contractors from the aerospace and defense industry and academia worked on Apollo missions. Today, we know the Apollo Program – along with the companies and workers that made...

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Building a Legacy: Industry's Role in Apollo 11

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” When President John F. Kennedy stood before Rice University to address the nation, he was confident that our mission to the moon was more than just a dream – it was an opportunity for “the greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.” Fifty years later, Apollo 11 remains the gold standard for human achievement. And at the heart of this achievement was...

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Celebrating the Nation We Secure

This 4th of July celebrates the 243rd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. Throughout our history, the aerospace and defense industry has been an essential part of our nation’s security, supporting the servicemembers who have sacrificed so much for the freedom we Americans hold dear. That was exactly our role 75 years ago last month – when American forces stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. As our soldiers risked their lives that da...

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The Spirit of American A&D: 2019 Paris Air Show Recap

With the same Spirit that Charles Lindbergh brought to Le Bourget in 1927, the U.S. contingent landed at the 2019 Paris Air Show bringing the best of American ingenuity and innovation. If you had the chance to walk the runways at Le Bourget during the show, you saw American aerospace and defense innovation on full display. If you’re like most people, your experience with an air show has probably come as a spectator of the awe-inspiring flying displays. But there’s a lot more goi...

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Pride Month Spotlight: Martha Holt Castle, Raytheon

Martha Holt CastleSenior Counsel, IDSRaytheon At work, Martha is Senior Counsel for IDS. Outside of work, she is a mother of two who tries to balance family time and advocating for LGTBQ rights. Learn more about Martha in this inspiring Voices of IDS profile celebrating Pride month. STARTED AT RAYTHEON: Three and a half years ago, I joined Raytheon as Counsel for Corporate with a focus on environmental, health and safety law. Since that time, my responsibilities evolved to include l...

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Pride Month Spotlight: Tania Hanna, Harris Corp.

Read what Harris Corp's VP of Government Relations, Tania Hanna, has to say about Pride Month: "June is recognized in the US as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, in commemoration of the June 1969 Stonewall demonstration and protests in NYC, historically recognized as the beginning of the LGBTQ equal rights movement. While much progress has been made in the fight for equal rights, there is still much to be done. As of June 2015, all states license and recognize marriage b...

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NASA – Leading the Future of Aeronautics

When we think of NASA’s groundbreaking work, most of our brains go straight to accomplishments in space. From revolutionary photos of black holes to dreams of sending people to Mars, these achievements often overshadow the groundbreaking work taking place in the field of NASA’s first “A:”Aeronautics. Since the Wright Brothers’ first flight in 1903, aeronautics has always been a pillar of American innovation and international competitiveness. NASA and the agency’s predecessor, the...

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Celebrating Pride throughout the Aerospace & Defense Industry

The industry that’s changing the way our world moves, connects, and explores is also helping to build a more inclusive workplace. We’re proud of the 30 AIA member companies that received a perfect score of 100 this year in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2019 Corporate Equality Index, the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ employees. This recognition shows how important it is to AIA members to provide our global workforce with every opportu...

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Pride Month Spotlight: Jake Palenske, Raytheon

Jake PalenskeSenior Manager, Digital/Social Marketing & AnalyticsRaytheon June marks the beginning of Pride month, which celebrates the LGBT community nationwide. Jake Palenske is a member of the IIS Communications leadership team and manages the business’ digital marketing and analytics function. He’s been with Raytheon for seven years and formerly served as the communications lead for GIS and Business Development. Here, Jake discusses his career with Raytheon, and what ...

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