LONDON, England – Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and the state team at the Farnborough International Airshow connected with aerospace industry executives and others today at a gathering hosted by the Aerospace Alliance, a partnership that unites Alabama and other Gulf Coast states.
At the event, Governor Bentley talked with Taylor Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems, which operates an ultra-modern factory in Huntsville where the company produces its SM-3 and SM-6 missiles. The SM-3 and SM-6 are considered key defensive weapons for the U.S. Navy.
Governor Bentley and Seth Hammett, his chief of staff, also talked with Pascal Parant, a vice president at AAR Corp., which is a top provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and is active in other aerospace-related fields. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield also joined the governor in conversations with industry officials.
During a breakfast meeting this morning, Governor Bentley told members of the Alabama group present in London for the Farnborough Airshow that he would not be “outworked” at the aerospace industry’s key trade event. Expanding the state’s aerospace industry is a key goal in his Accelerate Alabama strategic growth plan.
“We are all going to work hard and show the world that Alabama is the place to come and do business,” he said.
At the Aerospace Alliance event, Governor Bentley and Hammett also spoke with U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, who joined his Alabama colleague Senator Jeff Sessions in England for the air show.
Other officials from Alabama attended the event. Bill Sisson, executive director of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke with Jim Losse, vice president and general manager for advanced materials at aerospace giant General Dynamics.
Also attending were a team from the University of Alabama comprised of Jo Bonner, vice chancellor for government relations and economic development; Chuck Karr, dean of the university’s College of Engineering; Carl Pinkert, vice president for research; and Sam Addy, director of the university’s Center for Business and Economic Research.
The Aerospace Alliance was created to establish the Gulf Coast region into a prime aerospace cluster. Members are Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida.
