Meeting Notices

“Using Technology and Training to Lower Product Cost”
Los Angeles Chapter meeting on November 15

The productivity competitive advantage of the U.S. can be sustained only if we maintain and grow a highly trained and highly productive workforce. But a shortage of qualified engineers and machinists and lower labor costs in competitive countries threaten domestic A&D suppliers.

The State of California has created programs to help California manufacturers have the highly trained workforce they need now and in the future.

Please join us in Los Angeles on Friday, November 15, 2013, 7:30am – 9:00am PST, when Joe Klocko, Director, Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) will describe how the CACTs represent a great untapped resource for you to prepare your highly trained workforce of the future. Hear how your company can engage with the state-wide CACT network for low cost workforce training and technology introduction services to increase your global competitiveness.

For more information see Invite to A&D Forum (LA) (Nov 2013).

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until November 7). Click here to register to attend the meeting in person or for free via the web.

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

The Los Angeles chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum was founded by Frontier Associates and the 62 Mile Club, and is sponsored by Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, Moss Adams, Sheppard Mullin, and UK Trade & Investment.

“Morphing a High-tech Prototype into a Production Machine”
Aerospace & Defense Forum Meeting on November 12 in Tucson AZ

With its two mirrors on a single mount, the Large Binocular Telescope is the largest optical telescope in the world and the forerunner of the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes.

Despite financial ups and downs and political challenges, the pioneering vision of a few engineers and scientists and the indefectible optimism of its promoters morphed a technological dream into a one-of-a-kind highly-complex facility now sitting on Mt. Graham in East Arizona, supported by an international collaboration of German, Italian, and US research institutions and universities.

Please join us in Tucson AZ on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 7:30am – 9:00am PST, when Dr. Christian Veillet, Director, Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, will show how turning a page without forgetting the past and bringing back the core values of a multicultural partnership will enable the observatory to reach its full potential in spite of the many hurdles it still faces.

Meetings are free while the Arizona Chapter is in formation. Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Membership in the A&D Forum is currently free for Arizona residents. Click here for information about joining The A&D Forum.

The Arizona Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum was founded by the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Snell & Wilmer, Greenberg Traurig, General Dynamics C4 Systems, and Frontier Associates.

“Stay Private or Take Our A&D Company Public?”
OC Chapter November 7, 2013 meeting

Over the last year, there have been several high profile initial public offerings that make “going public” look attractive to well-positioned private companies and their key stakeholders. There are benefits and drawbacks to both types of companies.

Please join us on Thursday, November 7, 7:30am – 9:00am PST, when a very experienced panel will highlight some of those benefits and drawbacks from the managerial, legal, investor, and practical perspectives. Panel members include John Carson, CEO of Irvine Sensors Corporation, Brit Stephens of D.A. Davidson, & Co., Jason Wisniewski of Dorsey & Whitney, and Larry Ward of Dorsey & Whitney as Moderator.

For more information click here to see the file “Invitation to A&D Forum (OC) (Nov 2013).pdf”.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members, $30 for non-members until October 31, and $40 thereafter. Click here to register to attend the meeting.

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

The Orange County chapter was founded by Frontier Associates and D.A. Davidson & Co., and is sponsored by Burdge Logistics, Moss Adams, California Centers for International Trade Development, Dorsey & Whitney, and UK Trade & Investment.

“The Evolution of Cubic Corporation”
San Diego Chapter October 22, 2013 meeting

Cubic Corporation was founded as an electronics company in 1951 by entrepreneur and former CEO Walter J. Zable. In the early years, the company pioneered unique electronic instrumentation to solve problems of the space age. Since the company went public in 1959, annual sales have grown from $5 million to $1.38 billion in 2012. Today Cubic is a leading international provider of systems and services that address the mass transit and global defense markets’ most critical needs.

Please join us on Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 7:30am – 9:00am PST, when Jay Thomas, EVP and CFO of Cubic Corporation, will discuss the history of Cubic, the evolution in leadership from an entrepreneur/CEO/founder to a multinational organization, and the company’s strategic direction for its core businesses today.

The meeting will consist of Mr. Thomas’ presentation and opportunities for open group discussion and networking.

For more information see the file Invitation to A&D Forum (SD) (October 2013).

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members, $30 for non-members until October 15 and $40 thereafter. Click here to register to attend the meeting.

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

The San Diego chapter was founded by Frontier Associates and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, and is sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, LevitZacks, Opus Bank, Capital Edge Consulting, and BNY Mellon Wealth Management.

“The 3-D Printing Advantage for A&D”
Los Angeles Chapter meeting on October 18

3-D printing has created a paradigm shift in the world of manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, unlike machining, builds parts with only the necessary amount of powder, eliminating waste. It enables construction of highly intricate geometry that would be impossible with traditional fabrication techniques, faster building rates, variation of alloy composition, and repair of high value components that might otherwise have been scrapped.

Please join us in Los Angeles on Friday, October 18, 2013, 7:30am – 9:00am PST, when Dr. Federico Sciammarella, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Northern Illinois University, will highlight the technology and how it has and will help propel the A&D industry into the next level. As an investor or someone that might be interested in utilizing this technology for their company this presentation will give you a better handle on where the technology is and what is required to provide your company with a competitive advantage, including the possibilities that currently exist and the future potential that this technology will provide if utilized properly.

For more information see Invite to A&D Forum (LA) (Oct 2013).

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until October 10). Click here to register to attend the meeting in person. Click here to register to attemd the meeting via the web (free).

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

The Los Angeles chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum was founded by Frontier Associates and the 62 Mile Club, and is sponsored by Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, Moss Adams, Sheppard Mullin, and UK Trade & Investment.

“Dare Mighty Things: Turning Around Two A&D Organizations“
Arizona Chapter October 8 meeting in Phoenix

Prior to his retirement from the Air Force, Lieutenant General Gene Tattini led the largest military space research, development and acquisition activity in the Department of Defense. But, on his first morning on the job, a Titan IV rocket exploded during liftoff, sending a half billion dollar satellite to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. This was followed in rapid succession by four other high profile failures. Three years later Gene was credited putting the organization back on its feet and achieving a record of 20 consecutive launches without a hitch.

Please join us in Phoenix on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, 7:30am – 9:00am PST, when Gene will share with us how he did it. Gene will also discuss the similar situation he faced when he became Deputy Director of JPL 12 years ago as it was recovering from the two 1999 Mars failures, and how this series of failures was successfully overcome, leading to 27 successful missions, including four highly publicized successful landings on Mars.

Meetings are free while the Arizona Chapter is in formation. Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Membership in the A&D Forum is currently free for Arizona residents. Click here for information about joining The A&D Forum.

The Arizona Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum was founded by General Dynamics C4 Systems, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Snell & Wilmer, Greenberg Traurig, and Frontier Associates.

Special Tour of Robinson Helicopter
LA Chapter September 20, 2013 meeting

Founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, Robinson Helicopter employs approximately 1000 employees and is currently the world’s leading manufacturer of civil helicopters.

Please join us in Torrance, CA on Friday, September 20, 2013, 7:30am – 10:00am PST, for presentations on and a special guided tour of Robinson Helicopter Company. Kurt Robinson, President, will speak on the history and future of the company, as well as describing some of the automated machines on the tour, where we will see the construction of helicopters from raw material to “ready for flight” test.

For more information see “Invite-to-AD-Forum-LA-Sept-2013.pdf”.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members (exclusive access to register until September 5) and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird September 5 – 12). Click here to register to attend.

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

The Los Angeles chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum was founded by Frontier Associates and the 62 Mile Club, and is sponsored by Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, Moss Adams, Sheppard Mullin, and UK Trade & Investment. The Breakfast Sponsor is Chase Commercial Banking.

Special Guided Tour of the F/A-18 Super Hornet Manufacturing Line
OC Chapter October 3, 2013 meeting

Please join us on Thursday, October 3, for very special presentations and a tour of the Northrop Grumman F/A-18 Super Hornet manufacturing and assembly line in El Segundo. First flown in 1995, the Super Hornet is a twin-engine carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. Full-rate production began in September 1997.

For more information click here to see the file “Invitation to A&D Forum (OC) (Oct 2013).pdf”.

Note: At the current time this tour is “sold out”. However one can join the Wait List by clicking on the Register link below.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members, $30 for non-members between August 23 and August 29, and $40 thereafter. By September 5, click here to register to attend the meeting.

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

The Orange County chapter was founded by Frontier Associates and D.A. Davidson & Co., and is sponsored by Burdge Logistics, Moss Adams, Dorsey & Whitney, and UK Trade & Investment. Breakfast for the meeting is sponsored by Hein & Associates.

Tour of the Aeroscraft
OC Chapter September 5, 2013 meeting

The Aeroscraft is a series of cargo-carrying rigid airships planned by the Worldwide Aeros Corporation. Ships are being designed capable of lifting 500 tons. The midsized model is 770 feet in length and can carry 200 tons, has a top speed of 120 knots, a range of 3,100 nautical miles, and a flight ceiling of 12,000 feet. The current prototype is 266 feet long and is designed for a top speed of 60 knots.

Please join us on Thursday, September 5, for presentations on and a close-up and personal look at the Aeroscraft, the airship that is changing air cargo transportation. The meeting will include presentations on the company and the unique technology and applications of the airship, followed by a guided tour around the prototype airship. A limited number of people may have the opportunity to sit in the cockpit, depending on the work being done that day.

For more information see the file Invitation to A&D Forum (OC) (Sept 2013)

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members, who have first opportunity to register until August 20. Non-members can register for $30 between between August 20 and August 27 and $40 thereafer. Click here to attend the meeting in person.

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

The Orange County chapter was founded by Frontier Associates and D.A. Davidson & Co., and is sponsored by Burdge Logistics, Moss Adams, Dorsey & Whitney, and UK Trade & Investment. Breakfast for the meeting is sponsored by Hein & Associates.