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New Publication Showcasing Greater Washington’s Aerospace & Defense Assets To be Released at Paris Air Show 

June 19, 2007; Washington, DC – The Greater Washington Initiative (GWI) will release its newest publication, Greater Washington Aerospace & Defense Industry Overview, June 19th at the Paris Air Show.  This industry analysis highlights Greater Washington as a hub for aerospace and defense companies, with access to the Pentagon, numerous military installations, federal agencies engaged in aerospace and defense work, and an unparalleled workforce.

Key Findings:

  • Location is key:   There are more than 800 companies conducting aerospace and defense work in Greater Washington.
  • Research support:  Thirty-three area R&D facilities conduct aerospace-related research. Facilities range from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Research Lab in Howard County, MD to the National Transportation Safety Board Training Center in Loudoun County, VA.
  • Aerospace & tech talent:  Greater Washington has nearly 138,000 workers in aerospace-related occupations and ranks 1st per capita among major U.S. metros. 
  • Home to aerospace engineers:  The region is home to approximately 3,700 aerospace engineers, a human capital total that is second only to Los Angeles.
  • Defense presence:  Forty-three of Defense News’ top 100 international defense companies have operations in Greater Washington, including Lockheed Martin, Orbital Sciences and ARINC.
  • Association connections:  The top five aerospace associations, representing a combined membership of 14,200 companies, are based in the region, including: the National Air Transportation Assn., Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Assn., Helicopter Association International, National Defense Industrial Assn., and Aerospace Industries Assn. 
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    This publication is part of GWI’s ongoing international business development strategy.  GWI will host two events at the Paris Air Show to highlight Greater Washington’s aerospace and defense assets.  Executives from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Aurora Flight Sciences and Thales North America will highlight procurement trends and opportunities for aerospace defense business on both sides of the Atlantic and share why their companies benefit from having a presence in Greater Washington.  The Honorable Michael Wynne, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force will keynote one of the events.

    “We’re delighted and honored to have Secretary Wynne speaking at a Greater Washington Initiative event,” said April DuBois, Director of International Business Development.  “Couple his presence with the participation of C-level executives from the region’s most notable aerospace and defense companies, and attendees of the Paris Air Show will understand that Greater Washington is a premier location for their businesses.”

    The Aerospace & Defense Industry Overview is available online at www.greaterwashington.org.

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    The Greater Washington Initiative (GWI) is the regional research and economic development marketing organization that promotes the area encompassing the Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland as a premier business location. GWI is an affiliate of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. For more information, visit www.greaterwashington.org.

     

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