Defense Sector Council to Join Pence in UK
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Aerospace and Defense Council says it will be sending some of its members to the United Kingdom to take part in Governor Mike Pence's economic development mission. The organization says representatives from companies in Indianapolis, LaPorte, Bloomington and Fort Wayne will join Pence on the trip.
July 9, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Representatives of the Indiana Aerospace & Defense Council (IADC) announced plans today to join Governor Mike Pence on his jobs and economic development trade mission to the United Kingdom. Several notable companies from the IADC will attend the Farnborough International Airshow next week as part of the Governor’s delegation.
The IADC is a partnership between Conexus Indiana and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and supports and grows Indiana’s aerospace and defense sector. The IADC’s member companies will attend Farnborough and help the State draw attention to Indiana’s strengths in the aerospace and defense sector.
Joining the Governor's delegation at Farnborough will be Aerodyn Engineering and Garrity Tool Company (both Indianapolis), J&L Dimensional Services (LaPorte), MSP Aviation (Bloomington) and Riverside Manufacturing (Fort Wayne).
“We wanted to make sure that Indiana was represented at this show by a diverse group of aerospace and defense companies,” said Ryan Metzing, director of the IADC. Metzing will be part of the delegation representing Indiana and the IADC. “While these companies are certainly diverse geographically, they also offer a wide array of aerospace-related capabilities, including electronic components manufacturing, gas turbine instrumentation, precision machining and component inspection and finishing,”
The Farnborough International Airshow is one of the largest worldwide exhibitions dedicated to the aviation and aerospace industry. In recent years, it has served as the debut of such major aerospace innovations as the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft; Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, the world’s most fuel-efficient airliner; and a full-size replica of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Space Ship 2, which promises to carry commercial payloads into space. This year, GE Aviation will discuss its new $100 million jet engine assembly facility in Lafayette.
“From a competitive economic development standpoint, Indiana needs to have a consistent presence at shows like this,” said Metzing, noting that many other states will be attending Farnborough, as well. 'Indiana has fantastic potential to grow this sector over the next five to 10 years,' he said, 'but we have to be consistent and deliberate in telling our story. By inviting a group of industry leaders to share in this experience and offer their perspectives about why Indiana is such a great place to do business, the State is really hitting the mark.'
'We have a great story to tell a global audience,' said John Goode, Jr., president of MSP Aviation and a member of the IADC delegation. 'A lot is happening in Indiana’s aerospace and defense sector, and with good reason. We have strong and supportive relationships between industry, government and our research institutes.'
'We are being very intentional in developing a pipeline of highly skilled workers to lead this industry here in Indiana,' added Tom Carr of J&L Dimensional Services. 'Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana State, Embry-Riddle and Vincennes universities all offer specialized aviation and aerospace degrees. And, of course, Conexus Indiana works with Ivy Tech Community College and high schools and career centers throughout the state to manage the Hire Technology curriculum, which we believe will ensure a strong pool of workers with the important middle-skills needed now and in the future.'
About Conexus Indiana:
Conexus Indiana is the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics initiative, dedicated to making Indiana a global leader. Conexus is focused on strategic priorities like workforce development, creating new industry partnerships and promoting Indiana’s advantages in manufacturing and logistics. Learn more at www.ConexusIndiana.com.
About the Indiana Aerospace & Defense Council:
Conexus Indiana launched the Indiana Aerospace & Defense Council in 2011 to support and grow Indiana’s aerospace and defense sector. The IADC is a statewide initiative that serves as a forum for aerospace and defense industry executives and thought leaders to develop personal relationships and collaborate on promising economic development initiatives. The Council’s work is strategically aligned with State government, including the Indiana Office of Defense Development, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center.
source: Conexus Indiana