Meeting Notices - Los Angeles

Los Angeles Chapter meeting on April 21, 2023

After several years of turmoil, the aviation industry is preparing for the “Great Ramp-Up,” a period of increased demand for commercial and defense aircraft that will pose significant challenges to the industry.

A&D Suppliers must focus on executing the basics to meet the challenges of the supercycle, which will see Airbus and Boeing produce their highest-ever rates of monthly new commercial aircraft by 2026.

Please join us in Los Angeles on Friday, April 21, 2023, 7:00AM – 9:00AM, when Alex Krutz, the Managing Director at Patriot Industrial Partners and regular contributor to Aviation Week, will speak real world perspectives that every manufacturer and service provider should hear. He will discuss Initiatives to improve production systems and increase throughput and profitability are crucial during this period.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum Individual Members and Corporate Members, and $30 (until April 14, $40 thereafter) for Non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflaapr23.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 and Fifth Third Bank.

Los Angeles Chapter webinar on October 20, 2022

Advanced autonomy has become a priority for military aviators around the world. Whether known as Air-Launched Effects, Collaborative Combat Aircraft, Remote Carriers or Loyal Wingmen, the air forces of the world want to vastly expand mass and power by teaming-up crewed and uncrewed aircraft by leveraging advances in artificial intelligence and microelectronics.

Timelines vary among operators globally, but the Pentagon hopes not to fall to second place to anyone, especially China. All of the service branches have major programs underway to introduce autonomous aircraft piloted by AI agents can operate independently, in swarms or in teams crewed and uncrewed aircraft. This emerging priority is being supported by efforts to develop a new generation of AI capabilities, novel aircraft types and enabling technologies, such as cheaper engines, munitions and sensors.

Please join us online on Thursday, October 20, 2022, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time, when Steve Trimble, Defense Editor, Aviation Week, will describe how translating the vision into operational capabilities remains challenging. The operational test community is still learning how to test AI-piloted aircraft, which use non-deterministic software code. Military pilots are still learning how to constructively team-up with AI agents, which exhibit behaviors that baffle as much as they impress. And the defense industry is struggling to define the aircraft configurations and, not least, the business models that are best suited to a set of evolving requirements that continuously slide between affordable mass and exquisite capability.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflaoct22.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 and Fifth Third Bank.

Los Angeles Chapter webinar on September 22, 2022

With the proliferation of global satellite coverage being revolutionized thru strings of microsatellites, the “persistent presence” ability to have 24/7 coverage via the visual spectrum, infrared and synthetic aperture radar has become a reality. The satellite arrays are also beginning to make worldwide cell coverage from anywhere a reality. Sat phones are quickly becoming every cell phone, and with that a measure of connectivity, information sharing and global awareness unknown at any other time in history. Non-governmental entities like Belingcat, private industry and various news services are using these capabilities for analysis in ways that used to be the preserve of government intelligence organizations, and in many cases revealing things that are driving nation-state, regional and global policies and politics.

These new capabilities are yielding new applications in assessing supply chain challenges stemming from natural, man-made or systemic causes, critical infrastructure, agriculture, disasters and war, ships, etc. Hal will discuss how the Ukrainian armed forces are effectively engaging satellite intelligence to thwart the Russian invasion. In addition, unmanned presence is being further enhanced through various types of “drones”, specifically unmanned aerial/surface/underwater vehicles. Criminal activities on the sea, such as IUU (illegal, unregulated, and unreported) fishing and more frequent illegal transshipment, along with other wrongful activities, can be detected, monitored and addressed in ways that were simply not possible a decade ago, even a few years ago. All of this has profound impact on Southern California, as it is the historic and current center of gravity and lead for both satellite and drone development activities in the United States and arguably among all Western nations.

Please join us online on Thursday, September 22, 2022, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time, when Hal Kempfer, CEO and Founder, Global Risk Intelligence & Planning, will give us an inside look at the surveillance capabilities that are changing the world of intelligence gathering.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflasep22.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 and Fifth Third Bank.

Los Angeles Chapter virtual meeting on August 11, 2022

It’s no secret that we face numerous challenges at the moment… continuing supply chain disruption, a third year of pandemic impacts on the economy, a war in Europe and other geopolitical issues, employers struggling to find resources and consumers feeling the pang of inflation has individuals, businesses and investors wary about the future.

Are there any bright spots? What does the near-term future hold for consumers and businesses?

Please join us online on Thursday, August 11, 2022, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time for the Los Angeles Chapter’s August meeting featuring Jeff Korzenik, Chief Investment Strategist for Fifth Third Bank. Jeff will share some insights on the post-pandemic economy: how the markets are reacting and what to expect, sector growth including manufacturing, and the workforce challenge.

Topics that Jeff will specifically address include…
• Which Breaks First, the Economy or Inflation?
• The Narrow Case for Continued Growth
• The Labor Challenge
• Prepare for the “K-Expansion”

Jeff is a frequent guest on national news programs, and you do not want to miss this presentation. You will come away with insight that will help your company and/or your clients navigate the current landscape and be better prepared 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://adflaaug22.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 and Fifth Third Bank.

Los Angeles Chapter meeting and tour on May 20, 2022

The Santa Monica Police Department has a long history of utilizing aircraft in support of its law enforcement operations. Starting in 1929 with a two-seater, radial engine Kari Keen Sioux Coupe 60, the department has endeavored to utilize the advantages of having an eye in the sky to support the officer on the ground. That pursuit continues today with the deployment of unmanned ariel systems and the operational philosophy of utilizing a Drone as First Responder (DFR). DFR is a transformational method of policing that has demonstrated the ability to increase officer and community safety by reducing overall police response times and providing information to potentially de-escalate emergency situations.

This operation utilizes a sUAS (drones) on the roof of the police station, ready to take off at moment’s notice with a sworn police officer controlling that sUAS with a remote teleoperation software suite that allows the use of large high-definition monitors and access to additional technologies. The sUAS has a powerful on-board camera that streams HD video back to the department’s real-time operations center where the teleoperator, who is a trained critical incident manager, to “virtually” arrive on scene first, sometimes minutes before officers arrive on scene, and provide responding public safety personnel with the critical information necessary to appropriately respond to emergent calls for service and emergency situations.

The Santa Monica Police Department implemented its DFR program in November of 2021 and immediately realized the benefits of this technology. The ability to get a UAS on scene rapidly, to any call, has drastically reduced response times, provides real time livestreaming for officers and supervisors and allows de-escalation by having an experienced officer preview and advise responding field units on the actual conditions they are responding to. The DFR concept has changed the nature of “first response”, from relying on second and third hand information to operating with a real time level of situational awareness unimaginable in 1929.

Please join us on Friday, May 20, 2022, for a tour of the Santa Monica Police Department’s DFR facilities and a presentation by Barry Brennan, Founder and President of Flying Lion Inc., who will discuss the company’s role with the SMPD DFR Program. This DFR Program tour will demonstrate how SMPD is utilizing sUAS technology to significantly enhance public safety and the capability of first responders in Santa Monica.

Agenda for the session…
• Introductions and presentation
• Break into two or three groups for tours of…
> DFR Air Support Officer Office
> Rooftop DFR Landing Zone
• Back to the conference room for follow up discussion

The meeting/tour is limited to 20 attendees and is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflamay22.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, Moss Adams, and Fifth Third Bank.

Los Angeles Chapter virtual meeting on March 30

U.S. Navy shipbuilding is expected to reach construction levels not seen since the Cold War era given stated force-level goals of a 355-ship fleet (up to ~500 including unmanned), compared to the 296 in-service vessels today. Increased importance on naval operations in the face of near-peer tensions, most notably China and Russia, driving a structural shift in fleet architecture, with an emphasis on Distributed Maritime Operations and subsurface warfare superiority, driving a redistribution of the fleet’s overall composition – smaller proportion of larger ships (e.g., large surface combatants), a larger proportion of smaller ships (e.g., amphibious, logistics/support, frigates) and a third tier of optionally/unmanned surface vessels – and a prioritization of submarine recapitalization (e.g., Columba-class).

Significant Congressional support for shipbuilding reflected by the fact that appropriated funds have consistently outpaced Administration’s requests over the past decade. However, despite such support, force level goal attainment requires future funding to exceed peak historical appropriation levels seen during the 1980s, a continued reduction in aging vessel decommissioning efforts and associated sustainment funding, and finally, significant investment towards eliminating manpower limitations.

All of this in the backdrop of a diminishing supplier base – ~50% of supply chain labor and ~70% of suppliers lost since the 1980s – and pronounced maintenance delays exceeding 2,000 days – reflecting dry dock and labor capacity constraints, dry dock/homeporting mismatches and underinvestment at both public and private yards.

Please join us online on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time when Andrei Grskovic, Partner, and Mark Mangano, Principal, both of the Defense & Government Services at Oliver Wyman Aerospace will explore the future direction of the fleet, funding outlook and risks, market capacity, prevailing trends and associated implications on the incumbent and emerging shipyards, supply base and sustainment vendors.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adflamar22.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, Moss Adams, and Fifth Third Bank.

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.

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.