Aerospace Defense Forum

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“What Should We Keep Doing After the Pandemic is Over?”

National Online Forum meeting on September 16

We’ve learned a great deal during the upheaval inflicted by Covid 19. Companies have applied creative stopgap solutions to help adjust in the short term. Some of those things, borne of necessity, will fall by the wayside as soon as we’ve got therapies and treatments. Others have been valuable lessons in new ways of doing business. It’s hard to tell the difference in our current circumstances.

Please join us on Wednesday, September 16, 8:00–9:00am pacific time, when Rik Reppe, CEO, Experience Alchemists, will review some things from inside and outside the industry that we should not only embrace but even expand on going forward. We’ll cover innovations in technology and experience design that allow companies to realistically evaluate the use of AI, VR, Machine Learning, Voice interfaces, Smart building technologies and others to serve them in the post-pandemic era.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofsep1620.eventbrite.com.

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

The webinar is sponsored by Saenger Associates.

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Dealing with Today’s Sales Challenges

National Online Forum meeting on September 1

Many A&D companies, particularly those serving commercial aviation, have experienced a precipitous drop in sales. The National Online Form welcomes three panelists who have and are dealing with this situation and are willing to share their ideas and what did and did not work.

Please join us on Tuesday, September 1, 8:00–9:00am pacific time, when Massimo Masini (VP/GM, Whitcraft), David Conrad (Director Business Development, PTI Technologies), and Tom Shaw (VP Sales & Marketing, Mayday Manufacturing) will share the sales challenges they are dealing with today and how they are solving them.

A future National Online Forum will deal with tomorrow’s sales challenges, e.g., defense-oriented firms who may be OK today and may have concerns about the impact of the deficit on future federal budgets.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofsep120.eventbrite.com.

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

The webinar is sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation.

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“Practical considerations for returning to work in the post-COVID-19 world”

Joint Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley Chapter virtual meeting on August 26

Many A&D Forum members participate in the Defense Supply Chain and thus never really closed. Portions of their workforce were continuing to work in a manufacturing environment with daily health screening, mask wearing, social distancing, increased hygiene and in some cases regular Covid-19 testing. Once we can return to work, things will change once again and may cause some disruption. Manufacturing plants that never closed will have to determine what new practices to keep and what to discontinue. Some workforce members that transitioned to remote work may stay that way and others will return to in office/plant work environments. The only certainty is there will be changes, but no one knows what those changes will be.

Since March, employers have been reeling from government shelter-in-place orders and constantly evolving guidance and requirements pertaining to COVID-19.

Please join us online on Wednesday, August 26, 7:30–9:00am Pacific Time when Ben Tulis, Advice & Counsel Attorney, Jackson Lewis P.C., will discuss common issues employers are facing in California and nationally from when a worksite can re-open, guidelines for essential businesses and what to do if an employee refuses to return. Other topics will include the latest information on COVID-19 specific leave information, COVID-19 specific accommodations, guidance for safety in the workplace, and teleworking employees. This area is constantly evolving and the presentation will focus on the most timely issues based on the guidance at the time of the meeting. We will also discuss the various federal, state, and local requirements and resources that help employers stay up to date.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsfvaug20.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 RSM, Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, and Stanton Chase.

The San Fernando Valley chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is hosted by Rose, Snyder, & Jacobs and is sponsored by RSM, Chubb, and Bolton & Company.

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Space as a New Market – Part #2

National Online Forum meeting on August 19

Please join us online Wednesday, August 19, 8:00–9:00am Pacific Time, when Marco Caceres, Senior Space Analyst, Teal Group Corp., will discuss the emerging commercial market for broadband satellites aimed primarily at meeting the growing demand for faster and more affordable internet access around the world.

New satellite constellations such as SpaceX’s Starlink are being developed and launched by well-financed entrepreneurial firms that are quickly redefining the satellite market. These constellations are being launched by relatively new and more affordable space launch vehicles also developed and operated by relatively new entrepreneurial firms that are also redefining the launch services market.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to https://adfnofaug20.eventbrite.com.

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

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Space as a New Market – Part #1

National Online Forum meeting on July 22

The National Online Form welcomes three panelists with up close and personal experiences with Space as a New Market.

Please join us online Wednesday, July 22, 8:00–9:00am PST when Robert Jacobson (Desert Sky Holdings & Space Advisors, Co-Founder, The A&D Forum), Randa Relich Milliron (CEO/CoFounder, Interorbital Systems), Dave Strobel (CEO, Space Micro) and Ivan Rosenberg (Moderator) (Managing Partner, InVista Associates and Co-Founder and Executive Director, The A&D Forum) will present their view and experiences of Space as a New Market. Robert’s recently published book Space is Open for Business presents both a history of New Space and emerging opportunities. Randa’s company is producing the world’s lowest cost orbital launch vehicles. Dave’s company produces radiation hardened, yet affordable, spacecraft subsystems operating in all orbital domains.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members.  For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfnofjul20.eventbrite.com.

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

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“Frequent & Reliable Small Launch is Here”

Joint Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley Chapter virtual meeting on July 17

We are in an exciting new era of small satellite technology – one that’s making life on Earth better. Small satellites keep us connected, provide security, help us monitor resources and environmental change, and they enable us to explore new and exciting science that benefits us all.

Access to orbit for these small satellites has been challenging, until now. Rocket Lab believes the launch process should be simple, seamless and tailored to your mission – from idea to orbit. Since the Electron launch vehicle was first conceived in 2013, every detail of the Rocket Lab launch experience has been designed to provide small satellites with rapid, reliable and affordable access to space.

Please join us online on Friday, July 17, 8:00–9:00am PST when Shane Fleming, VP Global Commercial Launch Services, Rocket Lab, will present how innovation is at the core of the Electron launch vehicle, just as it’s at the core of the revolutionary small satellites they’re launching to orbit. Electron was designed to be built and launched with unprecedented frequency, while providing the smoothest ride and most precise deployment to orbit for your satellite. They have also developed the world’s only private orbital launch pad to provide unrivalled scheduling freedom. Humankind’s next major achievements await us on orbit. We’ll take you there.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adflajul20.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 RSM, Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, and Stanton Chase.

The San Fernando Valley chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is hosted by Rose, Snyder, & Jacobs and is sponsored by RSM, Chubb, and Bolton & Company.

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“Set Up to Fail? Cybersecurity Compliance in the Last Mile of the DoD Supply Chain”

Virtual Meeting of the Santa Clarita Valley Chapter on July 16

Meeting Location: Virtual Meeting
Meeting Date: Thursday, July 16, 2020
Meeting Time: 8:00-9:00am PST

Many small and mid-size aerospace and defense (A&D) manufacturers want to diversify their sales pipelines by participating in the DoD supply chain as a result of diminished demand in the commercial aviation markets.

Please join us online on Thursday, July 16, 8:00–9:00am PST, when Jacob Horne, Sr. Cybersecurity Consultant, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC), will describe how pivoting to the DoD supply chain has its own set of challenges and cybersecurity requirements.

The regulatory landscape of the defense industrial base is experiencing a sea change. Yet, the situation on the ground points to a challenging future for DoD suppliers. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) compliance obligations are required to be flowed down from the prime contractor to the subcontracting supply chain wherever controlled unclassified information (CUI) goes. This process is unknown to most small and mid-sized aerospace and defense (A&D) manufacturers (SMMs) and IT managed services providers (MSPs). Soon Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) modifications to DFARS will prevent A&D SMMs from bidding on contracts as a result of poor IT MSP management.

The combination of reliance on managed service providers and nebulous guidance from regulatory bodies has resulted in a distributed cybersecurity ecosystem with little hope of achieving compliance on its own. The rush to replace compliance self-attestation with third party audits has put both businesses and sensitive information at risk.

Cybersecurity is not a question of technology but rather is a function of robust supply chain risk management.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum Individual and Corporate members and $25 for non-members and is limited to 100 attendees. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfscvjul20.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 Wells Fargo Bank and the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation.

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“The State of NewSpace – Revolution and Evolution”

National Online Forum meeting on June 17

As the world slowly emerges from the Covid-19 epidemic, there is one bright star in the future of space business. The Space Revolution, headlined by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, and presented by Rick Tumlinson at the A&D Forum’s first ever meeting in May 2010, is well underway. As last weekend’s launch of the SpaceX Dragon demonstrated, even as economies shudder, the push to open space through low cost reusable spaceships is moving ahead at full thrust.

Please join us online Wednesday, June 17, 8:00–9:00am PST when Rick Tumlinson (Founder and Chairman, SpaceFund) and Meagan Crawford (Managing Partner, SpaceFund) will present their take on the state of space, both from an investor’s perspective and a broader economic and strategic viewpoint, and share their view of what is to come on the frontier of this new industrial revolution.

The meeting is free for members and $25 for non-members and is limited to 100 attendees. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfnofjun20.eventbrite.com.

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

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“Take Risk, Don’t Fail, The Power of Leadership, Innovation and Collaboration”

Virtual Meeting of the Santa Clarita Valley Chapter on June 18

Meeting Location: Virtual Meeting
Meeting Date: Thursday, June 18, 2020
Meeting Time: 8:00-9:00am PST

Please join us online on Thursday, June 18, 8:00–9:00am PST, when Mr. Brian Muirhead, Mars Sample Return Campaign Chief Architect at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will share some key aspects of how the challenges and risks of space exploration can be applied to leadership and innovation as we navigate this world of uncertainty and disruptive change. Brian is a key leader for the mission to Mars and will discuss how constraints can drive innovation while managing significant risk to achieve success. The following areas will be discussed based on lessons learned from the Mars Pathfinder mission and ongoing development with the Mars Sample Return and beyond:
• Leadership: “Glue and Grease”
• Innovation: Ideas, Constraints and Execution
• Collaboration and Team Building: Talent, Ownership and Trust
• Clear & Effective Communications
• Performance and Risk Management: Robust Solutions Against the Unknown-Unknowns

Brian Muirhead has 42 years of experience in the development and leadership of flight projects at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a JPL Fellow. He is the recipient of two of NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medals for his work on Mars Pathfinder and Constellation. Brian is currently leading the study of NASA’s Mars Sample Return campaign as Chief Architect and Chief Engineer.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum Individual and Corporate members and $25 for non-members and is limited to 100 attendees. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfscvjun20.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 Wells Fargo Bank and the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation.