The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) recently held the two-day AIA Florida Aerospace and Defense Workforce/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Summit in Palm Bay, Florida.
The summit’s tagline was “collaborating to inspire and build the aerospace workforce of tomorrow.”
Florida’s aerospace and defense industry employs more than 70,000 and contributes 1.3 percent to the state’s GDP.
The summit featured keynote speakers in the industry and also held workshops on a variety of topics affecting education and the workforce. Four AIA member companies in Florida also hosted tours of their facilities.
“This forum provides a tremendous opportunity to address Florida’s aerospace and defense workforce needs,” AIA President and CEO David F. Melcher said. “We must do our utmost to inspire and recruit the next generation of scientists and engineers. Our industry has great potential to create new high-skill, high-wage jobs, but it takes the right kind of people to create the innovations and ideas that keep our industry vibrant long into the future.”
The summit was sponsored by Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins, Larsen Motorsports, Northrop Grumman and Harris Corp., which hosted the summit at its technology and conference center.
Harris Chairman President and CEO William Brown said the company was happy to host because the summit attracts talent and fosters young minds.