NORMAN Oklahomas aerospace workforce will gather in Norman to listen, learn, share, and celebrate the industry that is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Summit and Expo will be Tuesday at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Norman. This years mission is to connect hundreds of aerospace companies to the states five military installations and the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

The expo will encompass a wide variety of categories within the industry, including commercial and military aerospace, unmanned aerial systems, space exploration and transport, general and business aviation, and a host of suppliers that exist to support the Oklahoma aerospace industry.

The Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Alliance (OADA) is proud to focus our attention on the opportunities that exist because of the presence of some of our nations finest military bases, said Jim Rice, Pro-Fab CEO and incoming OADA Chair. Our industry is stronger because of the business that is done with five military bases and our own Oklahoma National Guard.

Keynote speaker will be Frank Kendall, under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

This will be the11th annual Oklahoma Aerospace summit and the first time it will be presented by the OADA and held in Norman.

Previous summits being held in Oklahoma City or Tulsa. Although those cities house the largest clusters of aerospace/aviation related businesses, aerospace business is sprinkled all over the state, due in large part to Oklahomas five military bases.

Organizers and participants hope the summit will shine a spotlight on these smaller entities and help reinforce Oklahoma as a strong market for the industry.

Defense is a big deal in Oklahoma! said Paul Berry, ARINC and chairman of the summit planning team this year. My company, like so many in Oklahoma, does business with private sector aerospace companies, and often with the Department of Defense. It is important that Oklahoma companies and companies outside of Oklahoma know that we have a real strength in our defense related sector.

A panel representing all five military bases and the Oklahoma National Guard will be led by Oklahoma Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs, Major Gen. Rita Aragon.

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