Aerospace Defense Forum

By Leave a Comment

“Starting and Running the Honeybee Robotics Division in Pasadena”

“Starting and Running the Honeybee Robotics Division in Pasadena”

San Fernando Valley Chapter meeting on April 17

Meeting Location: City National Bank
15260 Ventura Blvd., 16th floor, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Meeting Date: April 17
Meeting Time: Doors open at 7am, Meeting 7:30-9:00am

Please join us in Sherman Oaks, CA, on Tuesday, April 17, 7:30–9:00am, when Dr. Kris Zacny, Vice President and Director of Exploration Technology Group, Honeybee Robotics, will share his experience as a senior manager/engineer in a leading space-robotics company as he stood up a new division across the country from its New York headquarters.

In 2010 Kris left Manhattan to start Honeybee Robotics’ West Coast Division in Pasadena, close to the Caltech/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Honeybee’s new Exploration Technology Group focuses on developing advanced space-robotics technology and systems for subsurface exploration of Solar System planets, moons, asteroids and comets. Kris will provide a background on Honeybee Robotics (with its three offices in New York, Colorado and California) and will give examples of the Pasadena division’s work and his experience growing the business from two people in 2010 to fifty in 2018.

The meeting is free for members and $45 ($30 Early Bird until April 10) for non-members. Guests may attend twice for free. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsfvapr18.eventbrite.com.

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

The San Fernando Valley chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by CohnReznick, City National Bank, and InVista Associates.

By Leave a Comment

Aerospace Industry Luncheon & Panel

Aerospace Industry Luncheon & Panel

A Unique Aerospace & Defense Event

AZ Chapter meeting in Phoenix on April 12

Meeting location: Flinn Foundation,
1802 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Meeting Date: Thursday, April 12
Meeting Time: 11:30am-1:00pm

Please join us on Thursday, April 12, at the Flinn Foundation for a panel discussion on recent, promising and unique aerospace industry activities in Arizona. Topics will include the Spaceport project, UAS Innovation Center, industry & academic collaboration, and growing drone service operations.

Panelists are Arnaldo Soto, Benjamin Hernandez, Lynn Spencer, and Paul Brierley.

The meeting time is 11:30am-1:00pm and includes networking and lunch. The meeting costs $25 for members of the A&D Forum, Arizona Technology Council, and Aerospace Arizona. The meeting is $50 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfazapr18.eventbrite.com.  Registration closes Monday, April 9, at 12 noon.

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

The Arizona Chapter of The A&D Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams and National Bank of Arizona.

By Leave a Comment

Tour of Moog Aircraft Group Torrance

Tour of Moog Aircraft Group Torrance

South Bay Chapter meeting in Torrance on April 11

Join us in Torrance on Wednesday, April 11, 7:30–9:00am PDT, when we will tour Moog Aircraft Torrance.

Moog Aircraft Group is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision motion control products and systems. Moog’s high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, industrial machinery, wind energy, marine applications, and medical equipment.

The Torrance support center provides repair and overhaul services to customers worldwide. The center focuses primarily on the support of precision rotary mechanical and electromechanical actuation products used in high-lift, leading edge and utility systems of various aircraft.

Free for A&D Forum members ($30 for non-members). Limited to US citizens and green card holders. Limit of 35 attendees. Registration closes at 7pm, Sunday, April 8. For more information and to register to attend go to http://adfsbapr18.eventbrite.com.

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

The South Bay Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forumis sponsored by Moss Adams, California United Bank, Community Bank, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting, and InVista Associates.

By Leave a Comment

“Fuel Cells in Aviation: Next Generation Power Generation”

“Fuel Cells in Aviation: Next Generation Power Generation”

OC Chapter meeting in Irvine on April 5

Although fuel cells have been used in space exploration for many years and are starting to gain traction in the automotive market, their promise of reduced emissions, lower noise and regenerative power are now making them more attractive for aircraft applications.

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, April 5, 7:30–9:00am, when Matt McConnell, Engineering Manager, Parker Hannifin, Aerospace Group, will discuss how fuel cells can be applied to aircraft for emergency power, auxiliary power, electric taxi and propulsion. Fuel cells are not a distant technology, having already been flight tested on commercial aircraft. Come listen to how this new technology will change the aircraft systems landscape.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until March 29). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

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

The OC chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, Verify and InVista Associates.
The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, Verify, and InVista Associates.

By Leave a Comment

“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act- the Impact on Business, Investing and M&A”

“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act- the Impact on Business, Investing and M&A”

San Diego Chapter meeting on March 27

Please join us on Tuesday, March 27 (networking: 5:30-6:15pm, meeting: 6:15-7:45pm PST), when our panel of industry experts Ryan Mitchell, CAIA (Wealth Manager, BNY Mellon Wealth Management), John Tishler, Esq. (Partner, Sheppard Mullin), and Bruce Strumlauf, MS, CPA (Shareholder, LevitZacks) will discuss how the recent passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act should affect businesses, investment policy and mergers and acquisitions, in 2018 and beyond.

We will explore the implications of reduced personal and corporate tax rates, tax advantaged repatriation of assets and depreciation rule changes, for growth and earnings, and discuss how business owners and investors should position themselves for the new tax regime.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until March 20). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsdmar18.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, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton.

By Leave a Comment

“IRIDIUM: PAST – PRESENT and NEXT: The Future of Global Communications”

“IRIDIUM: PAST – PRESENT and NEXT: The Future of Global Communications”

AZ Chapter meeting in Phoenix on March 23

In a world where global communications on land, at sea and in the skies are increasingly critical, Iridium operates the world’s largest commercial constellation, with a mesh architecture of 66 cross-linked Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites plus spares. The Iridium NEXT project augments the original system capability.

Despite overwhelming odds the Iridium team threw away virtually every standard practice in the space industry, created new models for manufacturing and mega-project management, produced a satellite a week, put 72 satellites in orbit in 13 months and completed the $5B system on schedule and on budget.

Please join us on March 23 (a change from our normal meeting date), 7:30-9:00am, when Durrell Hillis, (Ret) Senior Vice President and General Manager, Motorola’s Systems Solutions Group (SSG), and author of “The Creation of Iridium” will share his thoughts and passion documenting the creativity, hard work, and dogged determination by a talented team of Motorola employees working in the Arizona desert to launch the world’s first global satellite phone system resulting in one of the great technological achievements of our time.

In addition, David Cubbage, Senior Member of the Technical Staff, Iridium NEXT Satellite Production, will provide insight into the Iridium Next program that is replacing the original Iridium constellation after a system lifetime lasting more than10 years beyond the expected. This larger Iridium® ecosystem includes over 300 value-added partners who leverage the company’s unique network to manufacture, develop, market and support innovative applications for a variety of different markets and industries.

Join us and learn how you can be part of and contribute towards enhancing the global communications network.

The meeting is free for members ($30 for non-members until March 16, $40 thereafter). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfazmar18.eventbrite.com.

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

The Arizona Chapter of The A&D Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams and National Bank of Arizona.

By Leave a Comment

Tour of Triumph Aerospace Structures – Red Oak

Tour of Triumph Aerospace Structures – Red Oak

DFW Chapter tour at Triumph Aerospace Structures – Red Oak on April 12

Please join us on Thursday, April 12, 7:00-9:00am when Tour Host: Peter Weaver, Sr. Engineering Manager and Tour Guide: Tim Ellis, Sr. Engineering Manager, Manufacturing take us on a tour of Triumph Aerospace Structures – Red Oak. This facility specializes in the manufacturing and assembly of large major composite and metal integrated airframe systems for military and commercial aircraft programs. This will be a tour of building 1 focusing on manufacturing and assembly operations of the Bombardier Global 7000 Wing, the industry’s largest purpose built business jet.

Registration closes at 12noon CST Monday April 9.

Tour limited to 20 attendees who are US Persons (Citizens or Permanent Residents) and employed by companies incorporated in the USA. No Foreign Nationals and No Visitors employed by Foreign Companies.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members (exclusive access for members until March 26, $40 for non-members, $30 Early Bird until April 2). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to https://adfdfwapr18.eventbrite.com.

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

The Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter is sponsored by Frost Brown Todd.

By Leave a Comment

“Winning Business in Today’s Aerospace Supply Chain”

“Winning Business in Today’s Aerospace Supply Chain: What Small Companies Need to Know”

San Fernando Valley Chapter meeting on March 20

Small companies need to understand the changing dynamics within the aerospace supply chain. What might have worked five or ten years ago, may not win contracts today. To maximize your chances for success, it’s critical to understand not only your prospective customer’s requirements, but also the requirements they face further up in the food chain.

Please join us in Sherman Oaks, CA, on Tuesday, March 20, 7:30–9:00am, when Jim Simpkins, former president of Meggitt Safety Systems and Meggitt Control Systems, will share his perspectives based on selecting small aerospace companies to be part of Meggitt’s supply chain. In addition, his experience of winning business from Tier 1 suppliers like UTAS, provides a valuable perspective for small aerospace manufacturers to understand.

The discussion will cover key challenges and requirements for today’s A&D suppliers, including:
• New Terms and Conditions
• Quality and Delivery expectations (and what happens if you don’t achieve them)
• Lean – it is more about parts than charts
• Customer Satisfaction – not just scorecards
• Providing “services wrapped around products”

The meeting is free for members and $45 ($30 Early Bird until March 13) for non-members. Guests may attend twice for free. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsfvmar18.eventbrite.com.

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

The San Fernando Valley chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by CohnReznick, City National Bank, and InVista Associates.

By Leave a Comment

Tour of SpaceX

Tour of SpaceX

OC Chapter meeting in Hawthorne on June 7

Note: This tour is sold out. However, you can register for the wait list.

SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.

Join us in Hawthorne on Thursday, June 7, 7:30–9:00am, when we will see one of the most interesting manufacturing facilities in the world. SpaceX performs 80% of the needed manufacturing in-house at the Hawthorne facility, and thus a wide variety of manufacturing processes will be seen, from welding to composites. Engineering is also close to the manufacturing line to quickly handle problems.

The floors and the facility are so clean there is no wall between the 2-level cafeteria and the manufacturing floor. Mission Control is located on the manufacturing floor (with a level floor so employees can see everything). Note the expressions of the workforce – motivated like those of few other companies.

The meeting is free for members (exclusive access until April 9) & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until April 16). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

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

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, and InVista Associates.