Aerospace Defense Forum

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“Wargames: The Power of Scenario Planning Exercises”

Los Angeles Chapter meeting on December 5, 2024
In a world facing substantial changes – some known and some unpredictable – it is more important than ever to create and test corporate strategies that are allegiant to reality and accommodate a greater level of uncertainty than companies have previously been forced to manage.

Since its inception in the 1860’s, wargaming has proven to be an incredibly powerful tool in helping organizations anticipate, adapt to, and thrive in environments characterized by rapid, multi-faceted, high consequence change.

While wargaming has been a part of military planning for centuries, it is increasingly appropriate for companies.

Please join us on Thursday, December 5, 2024, 7:00AM – 9:00AM Pacific Time, when Scott Tait, Executive Director, National Security Innovation Catalyst at UC San Diego, will examine the history of wargaming, its benefits, and provide fundamental insights on how to use the technique to prepare your business to succeed in uncertain times.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum Individual Members and Corporate Members, and $30 ($40 after November 28) for Non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfladec24.eventbrite.com/.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Los Angeles Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is hosted by Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell and sponsored by Moss Adams.

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Powered Parafoils for Contested Logistics and Long Range Strike – SD

San Diego Chapter meeting on November 19, 2024

Meeting location: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
12275 El Camino Real, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92130-4092
Meeting Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Meeting Time:
Networking & Refreshments, 4:30-5:30 PM:
Presentation: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Freedom Flight Works, Inc. (FFW) is an aerospace defense-tech company with a focus on powered parafoil aircraft. Its products include the Long Range Precision Aerial Delivery (LRPADS) family of platforms ranging from 500 to 10,000 lbs gross weight air drop cargo vehicles, that can also be ground and ship launched. LRPADS is exceptionally low-cost and adaptable to weapons launch and ISR missions. Freedom Flight also develops personal mobility platforms with reduced signature and an Air & Ground Utility Vehicle that both drives and flies.

Please join us in San Diego on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, (4:30-5:30 pm Networking & Refreshments, 5:30-6:30 pm Presentation) when Austin Blue, President & CEO, Freedom Flight Works, Inc., will present how and why FFW’s powered parafoils have potential to make an important contribution to the defense posture of the United States in the fields of Contested Logistics and Long Range Strike in an environment of near peer threats, tyrannies of distance, and the growing need for tactical agility. The limitations of powered parafoils and the future prospects for emerging field of military aeronautical technology will also be explored.

The meeting is free for members & $30 for non-members until November 12 ($40 thereafter). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsdnov24.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The San Diego chapter is sponsored by Moss Adams, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, LevitZacks, and hosted by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton.

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“M&A and Investment Trends in the Space Ecosystem” – NOF

National Online Forum webinar on Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Please join us on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 8:00-9:00 am Pacific Time, when Justin Cadman, Partner, Quilty Space, and a longtime investment banker and financier to the space industry, provides a finger on the pulse of deal dynamics across the space sector.

Acquirer and investor interest in the space industry has lunged forward over the last decade as technological advancements, shifting economics including lower-cost access to space, and the growing criticality of space as a warfighting domain have made space-based capabilities more important than ever before.

In 2021, investor space mania reached its pinnacle, and while deal volumes have receded in the last three years since those heady times, overall interest remains strong.

The session will examine the current transaction landscape, themes that will drive the next phase of space deal activity, and factors that drive success for acquirers, investors, and potential targets alike in today’s dynamic space industry. Attendees will benefit from a practitioner’s view of how to navigate the changing space landscape as they consider inorganic growth strategies, financing alternatives, and potential exits.

The webinar is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofnov24.eventbrite.com

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org

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The State of A&D Mergers & Acquisitions – OC

Orange County Chapter meeting in Irvine on November 7, 2024

Please join us in Irvine on Thursday, November 7, 2024, 7:00–9:00am, when The Aerospace & Defense Forum Orange County Chapter will hold a panel discussion regarding the state of Mergers & Acquisitions. Learn from some of the most active investment bankers in Southern California on the deals they have worked on and what they are seeing as we close out the year and into 2025. From a buy side you will hear what private equity investors are looking for and what differentiates companies.

The panelists Steve Moon (Managing Director, M&A, Kroll Securities, LLC). Gerik Degner, CFA (Managing Partner, Axle Point Capital LLC), and Ryan Murphy (Co-founding Partner, KAL Capital) will take a dive into what segments of A&D are actively being traded and what are still on pause. Whether it be space, including satellite and launch, defense, MRO and commercial aviation.

The event is free for members and $30 for non-members ($40 after October 31). Register to attend at https://adfocnov24.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is hosted by Moss Adams.

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Site Tour of PPG Aerospace Application Support Center – SCV Chapter

Santa Clarita Valley Chapter Meeting on November 4, 2024

Please join us for an in-person site tour of PPG Industries in Valencia on Monday November 4, 7:15-9:00am PST.

PPG Aerospace provides an innovative product and service portfolio for Aerospace and Defense Industry. PPG has assembled a team of industry leaders that builds on its own long history as a transparencies aviation leader, with PRC-DeSoto International for sealants, coatings, and packaging and application systems. The Application Support Center (ASC) location in Valencia provides customer service support, delivers products and technical resources to A&D customers in the region. We are committed to providing customers with breakthrough technology, quality, availability, sales, and service.

The meeting is free for members and $35 for non-members until October 26 ($45 thereafter). For more information and to register to attend the tour go to https://adfscvnov24.eventbrite.com/

Information about joining The A&amp;D Forum is at <a href=”https://aerospacedefenseforum.org”>https://aerospacedefenseforum.org</a>.

The Santa Clarita Valley chapter of The Aerospace &amp; Defense Forum is sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation.

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“Get Ready for the New Cybersecurity Era!” – SB Chapter

South Bay Chapter meeting in El Segundo on Thursday, October 10, 2024

What You Need to Know About the New DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification

Big changes are coming for DoD contractors and subcontractors! On August 15, 2024, the Department of Defense (DoD) unveiled a game-changing proposed rule to overhaul the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and supercharge its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 program. This new rule is set to revolutionize how companies secure unclassified information in the DoD supply chain, and it could be finalized as early as Spring 2025!

Are You Prepared?

Under these new regulations, contractors will need to prove their cybersecurity chops from day one, maintaining compliance through every step of the contract. Whether it’s mandatory audits, fresh compliance protocols, or new reporting requirements, the stakes have never been higher! This is a must-attend panel for anyone in the Aerospace & Defense sector looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Please join us in El Segundo, CA, on Thursday, October 10, 2024, 7:30-9:00 am Pacific Time, when Meghan Doherty (Government Contracts Partner, Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw Pittman LLP). Christian Hansen, CISSP, CISA (Partner, Cybersecurity Consulting, Moss Adams LLP) and Moderator Rich Weber, CPA (Partner, Government Contracting, Moss Adams LLP) will cover the inside scoop on the latest DFARS updates, learn how to navigate the new CMMC 2.0 landscape, and discover practical steps your business can take today to ensure you’re ready for the future. With the 60-day comment period closing on October 15, 2024, now is the time to take action and secure your position in the DoD’s evolving cybersecurity framework!

Don’t get left behind—equip your business to thrive in the new cybersecurity frontier!

The meeting is free for A&D Forum Individual Members and Corporate Members, and $30 (until October 3, $40 thereafter) for Non-members. Register to attend at https://adfsboct24.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The South Bay Chapter is hosted by Moss Adams.

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“Unlocking Mexico’s Aerospace Market: Investment and Expansion Opportunities” – AZ

AZ Chapter webinar in Phoenix on September 26, 2024

Join us for a talk on U.S.-Mexico relations, currently more crucial than ever. Why? Because these two neighboring nations share a 2,000-mile border with 55 active land ports of entry. Their bilateral relationship directly impacts millions of Americans—whether it’s about trade, economic reform, education exchange, citizen security, or public health. From joint efforts in combating illicit flows to cross-border energy production and environmental management, understanding this partnership unlocks opportunities for growth, collaboration, and shared prosperity.

Please join us 8:30-9:30 am Phoenix Time on Thursday, September 26 when Eduardo Gonzalez, President, 258 Consulting LLC, Indira Jeffrey, Associate Director. Arizona State University and CEO, iGlobal Business Consulting, LLC, and
Sébastien Dérieux, CEO, Industrial Estate Mexico will explore the growth potential within Mexico’s aerospace industry, a field with strategic advantages that are hard to ignore. We’ll be highlighting the country’s proximity to the US, competitive labor costs, and growing network of aerospace clusters. The session will cover investment opportunities in areas like manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, as well as research and development. It could also outline the critical steps for establishing a presence in Mexico, including navigating the regulatory landscape and understanding local market dynamics.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum Individual Members and Corporate Members, and Americas Aerospace Cluster members, and $25 for Non-members. Register to attend at https://adfazsep24.eventbrite.com/

Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.

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Tour of Ascent Aerospace – OC Chapter

Orange County Chapter meeting and tour in Santa Ana on October 3, 2024

Ascent Aerospace is one of the largest designer, manufacturer and installer of aircraft sub-assembly and assembly lines for the world’s aerospace OEM’s with operations in California, Michigan, and Europe. This includes factory flow & design for rate, automation (robotic assembly, material handling, etc), tooling (layup molds, assembly jigs, work platforms, drill jigs, etc), and automated drill and riveting machines. A sample of Ascent’s current project portfolio is building and installing a new F-35 center fuselage line in Germany, 777X wing molds, drill & rivet assembly line for 737Max, center fuselage molds for A350, positioning system and join for several large rockets, and sub-assembly lines for several classified defense projects among many other projects.

Please join us in Santa Ana on Thursday, October 3, 2024, 7:45–9:30am, when the event will begin with a gathering in the ADC training room for the initial discussion and networking. Paul Walsh, President, CA & Defense, Ascent Aerospace will provide an overview and brief orientation of the business and facility. Then the group will be walked thru the factory showing major production processes and highlighting some products.

The number of attendees is limited to 35. A waiting list will be maintained if registrations exceed 35. US citizenship is required.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum Individual Members and Corporate Members, and $30 for Non-members ($40 after September 26). Register to attend at https://adfococt24.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is hosted by Moss Adams.

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Tour of Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest – SD Chapter

San Diego Chapter tour on September 30, 2024

Meeting location: Fleet Readiness Center SW
onboard Naval Air Station North Island
3rd St. & Alameda Blvd
Coronado, CA 92118

Meeting Date: Monday, September 30, 2024
Meeting Time:
Arrival : 8:00am PDT
Bus Departure : 8:30am PDT
Tour : 9:00am PDT to approximately 12:00pm PDT
Parking: Upon arrival at front gate, stay all the way in the far left lane and enter the parking lot on the left (where they A-4 Skyhawk is displayed).   Click here for Gate Entrance Map.

Established in 1919 on NAS North Island CA, FRCSW is the first aviation MRO facility established in the DoD making the command the birthplace of naval aviation maintenance. FRCSW provides world-class support to Navy and Marine Corps tactical, logistical and rotary wing aircraft and their components, by utilizing state-of-the-art management systems. It is the largest of the Navy’s 6 regional aviation depots. For more information:
https://frcsw.navair.navy.mil/

Please join us in San Diego on Monday, September 30, 2024 for a tour of the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest. The tour is limited to U.S. Citizens and limited to 20 attendees. You must bring one government form of ID, e.g., Driver’s ID, Passport, etc.
The meeting is free for members & $30 for non-members until September 23 ($40 thereafter). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsdsep24.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The San Diego chapter is sponsored by Moss Adams, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, LevitZacks, and hosted by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton.