Symposium Aims to Build Mississippi’s Future in Aerospace and Defense

An Event Focused on Aerospace and Defense Industry in Mississippi

Key industry experts gathered at the second annual Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi Symposium to voice the need for continued investment in infrastructure, policy, and research for the growth of commercial industries essential to space exploration and defense capabilities. The two-day event, which saw the participation of representatives from over 100 businesses and 15 states, was held at the University of Mississippi.

Creating a Thriving Ecosystem for Growth and Development

Mississippi’s future in aerospace and defense lies in its ability to support a thriving commercial industry, panel experts emphasized at the symposium. “Our economy is deeply intertwined with your industry,” stated Governor Tate Reeves as he discussed the influence of the aerospace and defense industry in the economic resurgence of Mississippi.

Symposium attendees included professionals from wide-ranging sectors in the industry, that cater to everything from military-grade weaponry to lunar landing hardware and the myriad satellites in between.

Promoting the Commercial Aspect of Space Exploration

Chief Resource Officer for Relativity, Josh Brost, underscored that the progress in the aerospace and defense industry hinges on commercial entities. The transition from theories about the commercial industry in space to its significant presence today was majorly driven by businesses dealing in rockets, missiles, satellites, space tourism, and electronic communications.

Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the university’s Center for Air and Space Law and CEO and founder of For All Moonkind, also reinstated that the commercial industry is pivotal to our return to the moon. However, she added that having proper legal infrastructure to safeguard these entities in space is equally important.

Building Infrastructure and Cultivating Talent

Workforce and infrastructure are integral to nurturing the ground realities for these industries, opined Nathan Murray, director of the National Center for Physical Acoustics at Ole Miss. He emphasized that the educational system, economy, and policy system are all interconnected components of the ecosystem needed to propel the growth of Mississippi’s aerospace and defense industries.

Encouraging More Participation in Aerospace and Defense

Overcoming the marketing challenges and spreading the word about the exciting opportunities in the specialty is critical, according to remarks by John Bailey, director of NASA’s Stennis Space Center. The abilities required in the aerospace and defense industry overlap with many other sectors, allowing individuals from diverse industries to thrive in this space.

Concluding Remarks

Mississippi’s aerospace and defense sectors are flourishing as evident in the recent expansion of Anduril Industries into the state, ongoing success of industry behemoths like Raytheon and Ingalls, and rapid growth of innovative homegrown companies like Camgian. Davis Pace, president and CEO of the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology, encapsulated the essence of the event stating, “These achievements underscore Mississippi’s dedication to innovation, collaboration, and excellence.”