Soaring to New Heights: A Recap of the 2024 American Aerospace & Defense Summit

As the 2024 fall season came to a close, our team made its way to the scenic desert landscapes of Arizona for the 10th anniversary of our American Aerospace & Defense Summit! The event proved to be a resounding success!

Above and Beyond!

From December 4-5, 2024, the 10th Annual American Aerospace & Defense Summit occurred at the beautiful Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Arizona. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to this year's event!

It was an invaluable and memorable experience, featuring engaging speaker sessions, valuable 1-2-1 meetings, lively networking receptions, insightful lunch & learn roundtable discussions, and much more!

The following recap highlights key moments and takeaways from this year’s summit. Whether you participated in person or are considering attending future events, this blog post offers a recap of the engaging sessions and valuable connections made by attendees on-site.

Table of Contents

Day 1 Highlights

Day 1 of the 10th Annual American Aerospace & Defense Summit kicked off on a high note as attendees gathered for a Networking Breakfast sponsored by Eyelit Technologies. This provided an ideal opportunity for participants to network and connect before immersing themselves in a full day of insight and innovation!

Following breakfast, Sarah Kane, VP of Space at Honeywell, and Dominic Perez, Chief Technical Officer at Curtiss Wright, joined Ellen Ferraro, Ph.D., VP of Execution for Next-Generation Operational Control System at Raytheon | An RTX Business, to deliver the Chair's Welcome and Opening Remarks. The emcees laid the foundation for a series of insightful discussions around the latest trends in supply chain and logistics, manufacturing, technology, and quality in aerospace and defense.

The opening keynote was delivered by Lisa Morris, VP of Supply Chain at Virgin Galactic. Lisa’s session, titled Navigating the Future of Aerospace Supply Chains: Overcoming Backlogs and Building Resilience, provided valuable insights into how the aerospace and defense industry can overcome supply chain bottlenecks and develop adaptive strategies to manage disruptions.

Following the keynote, Dan Newman, Chief Technology Officer for Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell, led a plenary session on Pioneering Autonomy: Challenges and Opportunities in Aerospace Regulation. Dan explored the challenges surrounding autonomous systems in aerospace, from the technologies driving autonomy to the evolving regulatory landscape.

Next, John Tukker, SVP of Regulated Industries at Cognitus, took the stage for a plenary session titled Driving Excellence with SAP Solutions for Compliance, Innovation, and Efficiency. John highlighted how aerospace and defense companies can leverage SAP’s expertise to ensure compliance, streamline operations, and enhance efficiency in a rapidly changing market.

The morning wrapped up with a break for refreshments and networking, allowing attendees to connect and discuss the day’s sessions in more detail. Additionally, pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings offered attendees a great opportunity to explore new business opportunities in an exclusive setting!

The 10th American Aerospace & Defense Summit continued with a series of engaging sessions focused on key industry topics, including supply chain & logistics, manufacturing & technology, and quality.

Jonathan Root, Deputy Program Executive for SCRM in the Office of OSMA and Executive for SCRB at NASA, discussed strategies for advancing supply chain resiliency. He shared illustrative case examples of risky supplier situations and outlined the challenges NASA faces in ensuring supply chain visibility and proactively managing risks and opportunities across mission programs.

Kevin Au, VP and Program Manager for Space at Lockheed Martin, took the stage to explore Engineering the Extraordinary: Leading-Edge Spacecraft Design and Systems Integration. Kevin provided valuable insights into mission integration, the scalability of future space architectures, and advancements in lunar and deep space missions.

Adaora Nelson, Ph.D., VP of Quality and Mission Assurance at Raytheon | An RTX Business, examined the evolving challenges in aerospace and defense quality assurance. She focused on how the industry is recovering and adapting to workforce fluctuations while emphasizing the importance of integrated quality control systems to enhance product safety and design quality.

Following the sessions, attendees engaged in a series of interactive and hands-on workshops led by specialists in their fields.

Mike Corrales, Director of Customer Success at 1factory, led a workshop on Achieving Quality at Source, highlighting strategies to improve supply chain quality and reduce downstream issues. Caldwell Hart, Principal of Procurement & Supply Chain Management at Avetta, shared insights on aligning supplier risk management with ESG and health & safety to drive sustainable procurement opportunities. In the third workshop, Ed Walsh, Chief Revenue Officer at Sigmetrix, explored how model-based definition and mechanical variation modeling can support better decision-making and innovation within organizations.

The morning sessions wrapped up with exciting lunch & learn roundtable discussions, offering a chance for deeper dives into critical industry topics and valuable networking. Discussions were led by executives from the following companies: Covalent, 1factory, Avetta, Sigmetrix, FDH Aero, Cognitus, Ivalua, GXO Logistics, Apptricity, ChainLink SRM, DACiS (InfoBase Publishers), Exiger, and Altair.

These discussions covered a range of topics, including supplier risk management, enhancing collaboration between OEMs and suppliers, modernizing procurement technology, and building resilience and agility in aerospace and defense supply chains.

After a dynamic morning, the Summit continued with a series of engaging sessions on supply and logistics, manufacturing and technology, and quality.

Frank Pelkofer, VP of Assembly Integration and Test at Maxar, shared strategies for optimizing supply chain efficiency, including lean manufacturing principles and vendor collaboration. John Lewis, VP of Engineering at Collins Aerospace | An RTX Business, and Mayon Neal, Executive Director of Interiors at Collins Aerospace | An RTX Business, participated in a fireside chat on connecting the aviation industry, developing future talent, and air traffic modernization.

The afternoon continued with a series of in-depth workshops, providing attendees with valuable opportunities to further explore the day's key topics.

Kallee Waugaman, Solution Engineer at iBase-t, explored how digital tools are modernizing MRO processes and improving inventory management while addressing workforce challenges. John Callahan, CTO of Presales A&D BU Global at IFS, discussed how ERP solutions drive efficiency and agility in aerospace, customizing workflows to meet the unique needs of organizations as they scale. Additionally, Jon Quick, CFO of Launchpad Build, explored how AI/ML is transforming automation in aerospace, addressing flexibility and technology adoption challenges to unlock future opportunities.

The incredible afternoon sessions and workshops concluded with a Happy Hour, sponsored by IFS. This provided a relaxed setting for networking and pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings, where attendees had another opportunity to connect and explore new business opportunities.

Following the break, the afternoon continued with a plenary session from David Shilliday, VP and General Manager of Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell, who provided an in-depth look at the potential of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). His topic Skyward Bound: Leading the Charge in Advance Air Mobility, highlighted how AAM, including eVTOL aircraft and unmanned aerial systems, will transform urban travel while addressing regulatory challenges and showcasing successful global implementations.

Women in Leadership Panel

The highlight of the day was the powerful Women in Leadership panel, featuring exceptional speakers from diverse sectors in aerospace and defense!

Ellen Ferraro, VP of Execution for Next-Generation Operational Control System at Raytheon | An RTX Business, Sarah Kane, VP of Space at Honeywell, Stacy Lanata, VP of Supply Chain at Pursuit Aerospace, Kara Grubis, VP of Strategic Defense Products at Agile Space Industries, Andrea Razzaghi, Director of JPL Management and Oversight at NASA, and Sandy Nasseri, CEO and Founder of MelroseINC, shared their insights on overcoming challenges and empowering the next generation of female professionals in leadership positions.

The discussion covered the barriers they’ve faced professionally, the mentorship that shaped their careers, and their advice for the future of leadership in aerospace and defense. Each panelist offered invaluable wisdom for those aspiring to lead in this dynamic and growing industry!

To wrap up a successful Day 1, we invited all Summit attendees to join us for a Networking Drinks Reception, sponsored by 1factory.

The Generis team was thrilled with the success of Day 1 and eagerly anticipated carrying that momentum into Day 2, where even more engaging discussions, workshops, and opportunities awaited!

Day 2 Highlights

Day 2 of the 10th Annual American Aerospace & Defense Summit kicked off with an opening keynote by Marc Fischer, Ph.D., SVP of Engineering, Cabin, and Cargo at Airbus. His session, Elevating the Flight Experience through Advanced Engineering Solutions, covered aircraft engineering trends, challenges in cabin interior modernization, sustainable materials, and the future of connected services.

Next, Kevin Pearson, EVP of Strategic Purchasing and Supply Chain at Safran Cabin, presented an insightful plenary on Unifying Efforts: Enhancing Global Supply Chain Collaboration. He highlighted the importance of collaboration, strategic partnerships, advanced technologies, and sustainability across global supply chains.

Scott LaFoy, VP of Nuclear and Technology Security Programs at Exiger, followed by delivering a plenary on Supply Chain Threat Intelligence – Malign and Unwanted Adversarial Influence. Scott explored identifying risks in aerospace value chains, using data insights to mitigate threats and the role of AI in building resilient systems.

The morning wrapped up with a well-timed break for refreshments, offering attendees a chance to recharge and engage in networking. This included pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings, allowing participants to connect and foster valuable business relationships on Day 2!

As the day continued, the Summit transitioned into a series of workshops, each offering an in-depth exploration of key industry topics.

In Room 1, Achamkulamgara Arun, General Manager of Industry Cloud at Hitachi Digital Services, and Scott Dieckhaus, Global Head of Aerospace Solutions at Amazon Web Services, co-led a session on Transforming Quality Inspections with AI and Robotics. They discussed leveraging AI and robotics to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of aerospace and defense inspections, reducing human error, and exploring AI-driven predictive maintenance to prevent defects.

Rahil Siddiqui, CEO and Founder of Wilya, addressed The Role of Cross-Skilling and Flexibility in the Future of Supply Chain Frontline Work in Room 2. He focused on equipping the new generation of workers with specialized skills and flexible work options, adapting work structures to gig-based models, and efficiently managing workforce transitions using skills data.

Room 3 hosted Reid Coultas, Partner of Dassian Strategic Solutions, and Leon Workin, CEO of Dassian Strategic Solutions, for a workshop on Supply Chain Compliance Visibility. They explored the importance of visibility across supply chain tiers, common challenges organizations face, and strategies for enhancing compliance while leveraging technology to reduce risk.

The Summit continued with insightful sessions, starting with Dominic Perez, CTO of Curtiss Wright, and Andy Windon, VP of Engineering & Technology at CAE Defense and Security, in a Fireside Chat on Bridging Digital Frontiers: Making Advancements and Overcoming Hurdles in Digital Transformation. They discussed the role of digital engineering, the rapid deployment of space systems, and the pace of change in the space sector.

Lastly, Bret Lowell, VP of Systems Engineering at Raytheon | An RTX Business, presented on The Digital Engineering Ecosystem: The Promise and the Power. His amazing session focused on collaboration, visualization, and problem-solving across engineering domains, improving productivity, and reducing defects through digital engineering.

The second round of workshops began with Crest Ultrasonics in Room 1. Lee Casey, Global Solvents Manager, and Tim Smullen, National Sales Manager led a session on How Crest Ultrasonics Technology Transforms Modern Cleaning/Processing Operations and Maximizes Efficiency. They explored the role of ultrasonic technology in precision cleaning for aerospace and defense components, highlighting its impact on efficiency, rework, and production. They also discussed the Four Pillars of Ultrasonic Cleaning and future trends in the face of increasing regulation.

In Room 2, Jesse Shiah, Co-Founder of AgilePoint, presented on Achieving Closed-Loop Optimization with Exception-Resistant Automation. Jesse demonstrated how next-gen composable architecture can enable resilient automation systems, eliminating manual workarounds and improving quality and system integrity across operations.

Room 3 featured a SEKO Fireside Chat with Russ Teimouri, Managing Director in Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C., Kristina Shore, Business Development Manager, and Deborah Shearer, Director of Engineering and Program Management, on Global Aerospace & Defense Logistics: Delivering Precision and Performance Under Pressure. They shared expert strategies for managing logistics in aircraft production, urgent operations, and the unique requirements of global aerospace clients.

Following the workshops, attendees enjoyed the lunch & learn roundtable discussions and open seating lunch!

Moderated lunch & learn roundtables provided further learning on pressing issues in the industry, including Cultivating and Sustaining Top Talent Inside Aerospace & Defense, The Future of Safety Systems in Aviation, Retaining Top Talent in Aerospace, Optimizing Supply Chain Management, The Role of Government in the Emerging Commercial Space Industry, and Regulatory Challenges in Integrating AAM into National Airspace Systems.

Participants in these discussions included Duran Gunter, Director of Quality (Core -MCL/MET/NDT) at Pratt & Whitney | An RTX Business, Scott Anderson, VP of Quality and Operational Excellence at Honeywell, Zulfiquar Taqui, Director, of Cabin Engineering at Airbus, Ilan Ohayon, VP of Supply Chain at Elbit Systems, Andrea Razzaghi, Director of JPL Management and Oversight at NASA, and Marc Nichols, Chief Counsel at the US Federal Aviation Administration. They offered valuable insights into key industry topics and allowed attendees to engage with solution experts in an interactive setting.

As the afternoon progressed, the summit featured a plenary session led by Phil Hombledal, Solution Advisor, Business Technology Platform, Regulated Industries A&D, and Dave Blatner, Industry Advisor, Aerospace & Defense, Travel and Transportation from SAP.

The session covered how organizations are overcoming integration challenges with cloud technology to drive data-driven decision-making across engineering, supply chain, and logistics. Additional topics included real-time analytics, robust data architectures, and the use of visualization tools for better financial planning and efficiency through personalized home screens and analytic applications.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Panel

Another key highlight of Day 2 was the insightful Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging panel discussion, featuring Keyosha Lee, Global Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Pratt & Whitney, Kody Braisted, SVP of Human Resources at Woodward Inc., and Marc Nichols, Chief Counsel at the US Federal Aviation Administration. A special thank you to Ellen Ferraro, Ph.D., VP of Execution for Next-Generation Operational Control System at Raytheon | An RTX Business for emceeing this incredible panel!

The panelists shared their definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s evolving work environment. Each speaker discussed the influences that shaped their thinking around DEI and motivated them to become advocates for change. The conversation also touched on the successes and outcomes their organizations have experienced through diversity initiatives.

Additionally, the panelists offered key insights on the next steps and calls to action that the audience could take back to help build a culture that empowers DEI within their own organizations.

To conclude a successful Day 2 of the 2024 American Aerospace & Defense Summit, our chair provided closing remarks and announced the winners of our survey prize giveaway!

As the event wrapped up, attendees left with actionable insights, new connections, and a renewed sense of excitement about the future of aerospace and defense. The energy and enthusiasm shared throughout the event were palpable, as participants gained valuable knowledge and built relationships that will undoubtedly drive innovation and collaboration in the industry.

We are excited to continue fostering this momentum and can't wait to bring you even more opportunities for growth and learning in the future. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

Conclusion

We are excited to share that the 2024 American Aerospace & Defense Summit was an outstanding success!

A heartfelt thank you to all the delegates, sponsors, and speakers for their invaluable contributions in making this event truly memorable. The energy and commitment from everyone involved were essential to the success of the Summit!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR: December 4-5, 2025 at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, AZ.

For those who couldn’t join us this year, registration is now open for next year’s Summit. Spots are quickly filling up—don’t miss out!

Visit aadsummit.com to learn more and secure your spot today!

To stay up-to-date on our upcoming events, be sure to check out our upcoming events at generisgp.com/events.

Testimonials

“The 2024 Aerospace & Defense Summit was an inspiring and dynamic event that exceeded expectations, providing a platform for knowledge sharing through engaging keynote presentations and dynamic networking opportunities.”

Duran Gunter, Director, RTX

“Very positive, good to talk with key business decision-makers and understand the challenges they are working through.”

Steve Hampson, Director, Cognitus

“Full of great content and worth my time. Lots of good opportunities to network and learn new technologies. Overall, a well-run conference and very professional!”

Chad White, Director of Quality and Mission Assurance, Northrop Grumman

“Great opportunity to network and see innovative solutions, particularly with emerging AI platforms.”

Sunil Abraham, Sr. Director Supply Chain, Curtiss Wright Defense Solutions

“Absolutely incredible experience. I will not only recommend to my management, but would invest from my own budget! Quite an impressive summit, and can’t wait to attend many more in the future.”

Jason Holker, Director of Strategic Alliances, TeamViewer

“Excellent opportunities for meaningful conversation. Few shows can yield as many high-leverage conversations with the right people to make inroads to desired organizations.”

Matt Stanley, Director of Customer Success, 1factory

“Best event I’ve been to in 2024. As a sponsor, it’s great to have meetings scheduled with people who want to meet with me and have a genuine interest in my solutions. Great experience!”

Christian Gange, Account Executive, Eyelit Technologies

“Excellent! Very intimate conference with talented people (speakers, companies, and attendees) connect in real problems, solutions, and the future of our industry. The organizers did very well attending to the attendees and making sure they were engaged.”

Marie Begg, Aftermarket Military BD, Collins Aerospace | An RTX Business

“Really enjoyed it. Met a ton of great people and learned a lot. Technology is advancing so quickly it’s great to have an opportunity to learn about these other tools and companies. Everything was well coordinated, and I always felt like there were folks to help if you had questions. Food was excellent. Thank you for a great event!”

Greg Adamek, Project Manager, Flight Systems Industrialization, Lockheed Martin

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