California Aerospace Days To Highlight California’s Aerospace Industry

What:
A joint legislative hearing titled “Women in Aerospace and Engineering: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities for Women in the STEM Fields”
Exhibition featuring a breadth of the California aerospace sector
Educational briefings on the importance and promotion of advanced technology start-ups and small businesses, comprehensive look at the Southern California Aerospace Economic Impact Study, review of the issues and challenges facing aerospace suppliers, and discussion on the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (drone) into the National Airspace System

When:
Monday, February 29 – Tuesday, March 1

Where:
California State Capitol Building, Sacramento, California

Media Opportunities: (All times are PST)

29 February, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.: “Women in Aerospace and Engineering: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities for Women in the STEM Fields” a Joint Hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace and the Senate Select Committee on Defense and Aerospace – Room 4203
This hearing will focus on women’s experiences in the engineering field, the programs that have helped them succeed, and the programs their company, institution, or organization have in place to help girls and women who are interested in STEM and aerospace to succeed. Witnesses: Kelly Jill T. Hennig, principle investigator of wideband communications products, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems; Dr. Malina Hills, vice president of space programs operations, The Aerospace Corporation; Dr. Tamara Jernigan, deputy principal associate director for weapons complex integration, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Dr. Debra Larson, dean of the College of Engineering, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Lt. Col. Kelly Latimer U.S. Air Force (retired), test pilot, Virgin Galactic; Dr. Sandra Magnus, executive director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Madeline Salazar, integration manager, Boeing Satellite Systems; and Julie Van Kleeck, vice president of advanced space & launch, Aerojet Rocketdyne.

1 March, 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.: VIP and Legislators Preview of California Aerospace Exhibition – West Steps
Exhibitors: Aerojet Rocketdyne, AMP SoCal, AIAA Los Angeles-Las Vegas Section Enterprise Program, Barrett Business Services, Inc., CMTC, Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo, California Space Enterprise Center – Green2Gold, Edwards Air Force Base, Flight Test Historical Foundation, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Leda Corp, Lockheed Martin, Corporation, MANEX, Northrop Grumman Corporation, NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, UAW-Labor Employment and Training Corporation, and Verisurf Education Program Software.

1 March, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: Briefing on Aerospace Start-ups, Independent Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Small Primes – Room 2040
This panel will review the impacts that some of the emerging small businesses are making in California and how state policy and legislation are promoting their continued growth. Presenters: Brock Christoval, CEO/co-founder, Flyspan Systems; Pamela de Liz, CEO/CRADO/founder, Ziled Group; CEO/CRADO, ZOEX LLC; Dr. Igor Pasternak, CEO/founder, Aeroscraft; Mike Todaro, director of mission operations, Millennium Space Systems; and Marty Waldman, director business development and government relationships, Space Information Labs

1 March, 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.: Comprehensive Briefing on the Southern California Aerospace Economic Impact Study – Room 2040
Results of the first-ever Southern California Aerospace Economic Impact Study will be released. The study provides an in-depth analysis that will quantify the depth of the industry across eight Southern California counties. Presenters: Sean Barr, director of economic development, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation; and Dr. Christine Cooper, senior vice president, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation

1 March, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.: Briefing on the Issues and Challenges Facing Aerospace Suppliers – Room 2040
Speakers: Erin Dyer, vice president, Accurate Dial & Nameplate, Inc.; and David Tung, vice president, Leda Corporation

1 March, 4:00 – 4: 45 p.m.: NASA Briefing on Unmanned Aircraft Systems integration into the National Airspace System – Room 2040
Speaker: Parimal Kopardekar, principal investigator of the NASA’s NextGen Airspace Project, NASA Ames Research Center

Onsite Contact: Steve Sidorek, 703.264.7541

Twitter Hashtag:
#CAAeroDays

Editor’s Note
The 2:00 p.m. (PST) session “Comprehensive Briefing on the Southern California Aerospace Economic Impact Study” replaces the previously scheduled 11:30 a.m. (PST) press conference.

About AIAA:
AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace professional society, serving a diverse range of more than 30,000 individual members from 88 countries, and 95 corporate members. AIAA members help make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, or follow us on Twitter @AIAA