Aerospace Defense Forum

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The A&D Forum’s Second Annual Holiday Networking Event

National Online Forum event on Thursday, December 16, 2021, 4:00PM – 5:30PM Pacific

The year 2021 has continued the challenges of 2020 for A&D. The 737Max grounding and COVID-19 pandemic have created disruptions within the A&D industry unlike any other year. Many have experienced hardships and unexpected transitions. At the same time there have been positive events within private industry. For example, the start of America’s commercial human launch capability to space.

During this past year, the A&D Forum has experienced its own challenges. We continued the focus on events based on Zoom. We lost the pre- and post-meeting networking time that we all appreciate. That networking has been a foundational element of the A&D Forum since its inception. In an attempt to re-establish the in-person networking experience we are hosting the A&D Forum’s Second Annual Holiday Networking Event.

No speaker, just networking in small groups. And to keep it interesting, we’ll do multiple group sessions with Zoom mixing up the groups randomly. Obviously, we still can’t meet in person and no one really knows when we’ll be able to do so, but by using Zoom breakout rooms we can recapture the ability to connect with our colleagues.

Each small group session will last around 20 minutes and contain about 5 people. We would also like the discussion to be something that lifts people’s spirits since this has been such a challenging year. Each of the three sessions will suggest discussion around one of the following questions:
• What new trends, challenges and/or opportunities do you see for your business in 2022?
• What lessons did you learn from navigating almost two years of pandemic?
• If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead), who would they be and why?

PLEASE NOTE: this will be an afternoon event, 4:00PM – 5:30PM Pacific, so feel free to bring your favorite “adult beverage” if you so desire, but no smoking please.

This event is open to both members and non-members, no recording, no cost to non-members and we’ll share your contact information if you allow us to do so.

The meeting is free for all Register at https://adfnofdec21HolidayEvent.eventbrite.com/.

We’re look forward to seeing you on December 16!

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

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“Inside the eVTOL Industry”

AZ Chapter meeting in Apache Junction on December 6, 2021

Meeting location: Mammoth Steak House and Saloon
4650 N Mammoth Mine Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119
Meeting Date: Monday, December 6, 2021
Meeting Time: Dinner & Presentation: 6:00-7:00pm
Networking: 7:00-7:30pm

In recent years, more than 100 aircraft makers have begun developing electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) designs. These efforts are being funded by some of the biggest names in transportation, from Airbus and Boeing to auto makers like Toyota and Hyundai. Some eVTOL startups, like Joby and Lilium, have debuted on stock exchanges with valuations in the billions of dollars.

Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace recent launched a business unit aimed at serving this fast-growing market, and has quickly chalked up more than $3.6 billion in contracts for avionics, fly-by-wire computers and other systems.

Please join us 6:00-7:30 pm at Mammoth Steak House and Saloon in Apache Junction, AZ, on Monday, December 6, 2021, when Chris Hawley, Honeywell Aerospace’s director of marketing for new technology, will give an overview of the company’s strategy and describe how Honeywell is helping customers overcome the considerable technical challenges of electric flight.

This in-person meeting is $35 to cover the cost of the dinner. Attendees are requested to maintain social distancing and wear masks. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-burger-beer-inside-evtol-industry-by-chris-hawley-honeywell-tickets-216868187587.

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

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“Spaceport America, Fits and Starts”

Los Angeles Chapter virtual meeting on November 11

Spaceport America was created and funded by the State of New Mexico to support the partnership with Virgin Galactic and its promise of space tourism. The spaceport now encompasses 18,000 acres and is surrounded mostly by BLM and other state land. The campus supports horizontal launch with a 12,000 x 200 ft concrete runway, vertical launch with a remote site 5 miles away, and advanced aerospace technologies like kinetic launch in another area over 10 miles away.

Yet, as in virtually all space-related endeavors, its success has been a long time coming with many fits and starts along the way. With Virgin Galactic now having gone to space twice from New Mexico, and with regular use by other tenants, Spaceport America is finally coming into its own in the “new space,” “Space 2.0” economy.

Please join us online on Thursday, November 11, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time for an inside look at the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport when Scott A. McLaughlin, Executive Director, New Mexico Spaceport Authority, will share some of the history of Spaceport America along with some of the successes and hiccups felt along the way.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflanov21.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 Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, Stanton Chase, Moss Adams, and Fifth Third Bank.

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“The A&D Industry from the Middle Market View Point”

National Online Forum webinar on 8-9:00am Pacific Time, Thursday, October 28, 2021

Please join us at 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 when Alex Krutz, Managing Director, Patriot Industrial Partners, will give an A&D market overview with a special emphasis on headwinds and tailwinds from the middle market perspective. Alex will go into industry trends, commercial and defense production rates and volumes and considerations for middle market suppliers. There will be an emphasis on what programs provide opportunities, what segments will have M&A activity focus and companies M&A influencers. Additional supply chain deep dive topics of the OEM/Tier 1 and middle market priorities and associated headwinds.

The presentation will wrap up with thoughts around how manufacturers can gain a competitive advantage coming out of the market downturn.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofoct21.eventbrite.com.

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

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“USTDA 101: USG tools to support U.S. exporters”

Virtual Meeting of the Santa Clarita Valley Chapter on October 21, 2021

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, or USTDA, connects the U.S. private sector to infrastructure projects in emerging markets. We achieve our mission by funding feasibility studies, technical assistance and pilot projects that integrate the innovation and expertise of American companies. We also connect overseas project sponsors with U.S. partners through our reverse trade missions, industry conferences and expert workshops.

Please join us online on Thursday, October 21, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time, when Jillian Foerster, Country Manager, West Africa, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and Brent Harrison, Country Manager, Indo-Pacific, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, will review the agency’s mission and ways that U.S. companies can benefit from the agency’s tools. The presentation will also include specific examples of projects and activities in the satellites/aerospace sector and an open, informal discussion on U.S. company priorities in the markets where USTDA is active.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfscvoct21.eventbrite.com/.

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

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

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“Current and Future sUAS usage in Southern California – Flying Lion”

Los Angeles Chapter virtual meeting on October 15

We all recognize that first responders have a challenging and vital role with no better evidence than the last 18-24 months. Often called to respond to multiple incidents simultaneously, with little to no advance notice, and often to remote locations where time is of the essence, sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) is a critical component of situational awareness, assessment, and ultimately, de-escalation or mitigation.

Flying Lion Inc. (FLI), founded in 2014, has continued to expand their footprint, and current “eyes in the sky” applications include emergency response, active shooter, SWAT, fire, crowd observation, natural disasters, search and rescue, and high population special events. FLI has created a solution for organizations that want to take advantage of the small sUAS or drone technology, but do not have the administrative, funding, or staffing resources. Flying Lion’s Mobile Command Team provides 24/7/365 on-demand sUAS service with a specially outfitted mobile command center which responds to an incident within 30-minutes of notice. It is a cost-effective solution to reduce risk, help command staff have real-time situational awareness from which to make tactical decisions, and capture actionable data for prosecution, tactical evaluation, and training. The following organizations have seen the value proposition and are currently under contract… Chula Vista, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes Estates Police Departments; University of California, Riverside, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Simply put… They call – we FLI.

Please join us online on Friday, October 15, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time when Barry Brennan, Founder and President of Flying Lion, will discuss the company’s role with public safety, a brief history of UAS, the current FAA requirements, and offer a view of the future of UAS. We know you’ll find this to be an interesting look at how technology is being integrated to significantly enhance public safety and the capability of first responders, and how this market is expected to evolve.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflaoct21.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 Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, Stanton Chase, Moss Adams, and Fifth Third Bank.

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“The future of flight – from electric aviation, to supersonic, suborbital and beyond”

Ventura County Chapter virtual meeting on September 30

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a new type of airplane!

New ways of flying are in the air. Advances in energy storage technologies, novel materials, fuels, and avionics, as well as the push for de-carbonization of transportation and the new commercial realities of aviation derived from COVID-19 leading to the re-alignment of general aviation, are opening the door to improved, and sometimes completely new types of aircraft.

These new developments are enabling new options for air travel. Vertical take-off and landing electric aircraft (eVTOL), that would make urban air mobility a reality – think of flying over the traffic in places like Los Angeles or New York City. The potential comeback of supersonic flight, this time with fuel-efficient and quiet designs that are economically viable and able to fly over areas with high population densities. Moreover, the successful first flights from companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are enabling an entirely new market for space tourism.

Please join us online Thursday, September 30, 8:00–9:00am PST when Dr. Anita Sengupta (Founder/CEO, Hydroplane, Associate Professor, USC Viterbi School of Engineering) will leverage her extensive experience in ground, air, and space travel to illuminate the particulars of these promising new forms of transportation, and we will learn where the most likely advancements may impact our daily commute.

Since the Ventura County Chapter is new, the meeting is free for all. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfvcsep21.eventbrite.com.

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

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“Ask New Questions – Build New Worth”

Joint Los Angeles/South Bay Chapter virtual meeting on September 23

“The most common source of mistakes in management decisions is the emphasis on finding the right answer rather than the right question.” – Peter Drucker

As business executives, it’s natural for us to focus our energies on finding the best answers to complex matters. What isn’t as natural is first asking ourselves, are we asking the right questions.

There is no better time to be asking a fresh set of thought-provoking questions. Questions that will help you elevate the strategic dialog you’re having at your company.

Please join us online on Thursday, September 23, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time when Larry O’Toole, Founder, Yosemite Associates, LLC, will share the insightful questions business executives should be asking now. As a participant, you will take away a fresh perspective on the quality questions to add to your leadership toolbox to foster healthy new dialog with your team that will build your company worth.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflasep21.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 Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, Stanton Chase, Moss Adams, and Fifth Third Bank. The South Bay Chapter is hosted by California Manufacturing Technology Consulting and sponsored by by Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, and Moss Adams.

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“Ampaire – a Trusted, Practical, and Compelling Provider of Electrified Aircraft”

Virtual Joint Meeting of the Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley Chapters on September 16, 2021

Please join us online on Thursday, September 16, 7:30–9:00am Pacific Time, when Doug Shane, General Manager, Ampaire, Inc., will introduce Ampaire, a relatively new-start company based in Hawthorne, CA. He will take the participants through the origins, mission, vision, and recent accomplishments of Ampaire, including its recent acquisition by Surf Air Mobility. and its plans for the future

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfscvsep21.eventbrite.com/.

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

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

The San Fernando Valley Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams, Chubb, Bolton & Company, and Rose, Snyder & Jacobs.