AEPA Aviation & Aerospace Workforce Summit
The Summit will bring together the key sectors of industry, government and education to identify issues in the aviation and aerospace workforce and develop solutions. Sectors and groups have been attempting to solve the workforce issue on their own. No single organization or sector has all the all the knowledge, expertise or perspective to solve the workforce issue. This Summit will bring the expertise and experience from all of these groups to identify and develop solutions to the aerospace workforce issue collaboratively.
The Summit will have three areas of innovation: (1) It will bring together civil (general) aviation, aerospace & defense and space; (2) It will involve the participants as direct contributors addressing issues and solutions; and (3) It will have a follow up plan to address the national aviation and aerospace issues and implement solutions at the local and regional levels.
Summit Dates and Location
Reserve a Hotel Room for the Summit
Reserve a Hotel Room for the Summit
Hyatt Regency Crystal City At Reagan National Airport
2799 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
Feb 24 - 27, 2025
Reserve a Hotel Room for the Summit
Reserve a Hotel Room for the Summit
Reserve a Hotel Room for the Summit
Reserve hotel room on site for the Summit at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Arlington, Virginia. The rooms are available for the Summit from February 24-26 2025.
AEPA Conference Rate
Reserve a Hotel Room for the Summit
AEPA Conference Rate
AEPA members receive a discount when registering for the summit. For additional or to ge tthe discount code email jeffcoppola@gmail.com
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Day 1 February 24, 2025
9:00am-7:00PM
Registration Check In
TBD
9:00am-7:00PM
Registration Check In
TBD
10:00Am-5:00Pm
Booth Set up
Independence Exhibition Hall
10:00Am-5:00Pm
Booth Set up
Independence Exhibition Hall
10:00Am-12:00Pm
Conference Planning Meeting
TBD
10:00Am-12:00Pm
Conference Planning Meeting
TBD
7:00pm-7:30Pm
Opening Session
Conference Theater
7:00pm-7:30Pm
Opening Session
Conference Theater
Day 2 February 25, 2025
9:00Am-10:45am
Plenary Session
Conference Theater
9:00Am-10:45am
Plenary Session
Welcome, Agenda & Conference Plan
Ralph Coppola, President & CEO, AEPA
Workforce and the Cost of Failing in Civil Aviation, A&D, and Space
And...
Conference Theater
10:45am-11:15AM
Post it Session & Break
Regency Foyer
10:45am-11:15AM
Post it Session & Break
The Post It Session is designed to enable Summit participants to contribute to the Summit and have their ideas included in the Summit Report...
Regency Foyer
11:30Am-12:20pm
Plenary Session
Conference Theater
11:30Am-12:20pm
Plenary Session
Moderator: Ralph Coppola, President & CEO, AEPA
Regional Networks Addressing the National Workforce Issue at the Local Level
Paula Kedy, State...
Conference Theater
12:30pm-1:50Pm
Lunch Session
Regency Foyer
12:30pm-1:50Pm
Lunch Session
Regency Foyer
2:00pm-3:50Pm
Regional Networks Exchange
Independence Exhibition Hall
2:00pm-3:50Pm
Regional Networks Exchange
Independence Exhibition Hall
2:00pm-2:50Pm
Non-Traditional Workforce Approaches: Certification and Stackable Credentials
Potomac Room
2:00pm-2:50Pm
Non-Traditional Workforce Approaches: Certification and Stackable Credentials
Roger Tadajewski Executive Director of National Coalition for Certification Centers (NC3)
Potomac Room
2:00pm-2:50Pm
A&D Workforce Comparing HR Hiring Requirements and Engineering Requirements Within a Company
Washington Room
2:00pm-2:50Pm
A&D Workforce Comparing HR Hiring Requirements and Engineering Requirements Within a Company
Jeran Culina, Senior Manager, Business Leaders United, National Skills Coalition
Washington Room
2:00pm-2:50Pm
Opportunities for Students to Get Experience Solving Space Problems
TBD
2:00pm-2:50Pm
Opportunities for Students to Get Experience Solving Space Problems
Students need to have more experience with complicated space topics at the undergraduate level in areas like nuclear propulsion. This sessio...
TBD
3:00pm-3:50Pm
Issues in Getting underrepresented Populations in the Workforce
Potomac Room
3:00pm-3:50Pm
Issues in Getting underrepresented Populations in the Workforce
Demetrius Harris, President/Executive Director, Fly Compton Aeronautical Education Foundation
Ricardo Foster, President& CEO, Infinity Aero C...
Potomac Room
3:00pm-3:50Pm
Creating Apprenticeships, Internships & Co-Op Programs
Washington Room
3:00pm-3:50Pm
Creating Apprenticeships, Internships & Co-Op Programs
Industry wants university students to have real world experiences. Apprenticeships, internships and Co-Op Programs provide students with opp...
Washington Room
4:00pm-6:00Pm
Plenary Session on Regional Network
Conference Theater
4:00pm-6:00Pm
Plenary Session on Regional Network
Moderator: Ralph Coppola, President & CEO, AEPA
Lehigh Valley
Mark Cronin, Executive Director, VelocityR Foundation
Scott Oste, Secondary Curr...
Conference Theater
Day 3 February 26, 2025
9:00Am-9:50am
Plenary Session: Developing the Workforce for Emerging Technologies
Conference Theater
9:00Am-9:50am
Plenary Session: Developing the Workforce for Emerging Technologies
As the aviation and aerospace sector grows there will be many existing an new jobs that will be required. This session will explore how the ...
Conference Theater
10:00am-10:50AM
Gaps Between Preparation and Workforce Requirements
Potomac Room
10:00am-10:50AM
Gaps Between Preparation and Workforce Requirements
Many companies require 7-10 years of real world experience for entry-level positions like engineering. This session will focus on how to bri...
Potomac Room
10:00AM-10:50AM
A&D Security Requirements: Needs and Limits on Workforce
Washington Room
10:00AM-10:50AM
A&D Security Requirements: Needs and Limits on Workforce
Industry jobs that are classified require security clearances. Generally companies hire a person and then pay for and help the employee get ...
Washington Room
10:00Am-12:00Pm
Cosmic Chats
Independence Exhibition Hall
10:00Am-12:00Pm
Cosmic Chats
Alumni from Aviation & Aerospace Programs Discuss their Experiences
Independence Exhibition Hall
11:00am-11:50AM
Successes and Challenges Implementing Curricula in Schools
Potomac Room
11:00am-11:50AM
Successes and Challenges Implementing Curricula in Schools
Kelly Filgo, Director of Operations Choose Aerospace
Potomac Room
11:00am-11:50AM
Issues Between Major Carriers and Regional Airlines in Maintaining Talent & Addressing Shortages
Washington Room
11:00am-11:50AM
Issues Between Major Carriers and Regional Airlines in Maintaining Talent & Addressing Shortages
Jon Potter, President & CEO, Commonwealth Airways
Bill Sherrod, Managing Director Flight Line Operations, American Airlines
Evie Garces, VP Li...
Washington Room
12:00pm-12:50pM
Lunch
Regency Foyer
12:00pm-12:50pM
Lunch
Regency Foyer
1:00pm-1:50pM
Connecting the Pipeline: What has Been Done and What is working
Potomac Room
1:00pm-1:50pM
Connecting the Pipeline: What has Been Done and What is working
Potomac Room
1:00pm-1:50Pm
Media Promoting Workforce Solutions
Washington Room
1:00pm-1:50Pm
Media Promoting Workforce Solutions
Many students are unaware of the job opportunities in the aviation and aerospace sector. This session will explore how media can be used to ...
Washington Room
1:00PM-3:50PM
Networking Session
Independence Exhibition Hall
1:00PM-3:50PM
Networking Session
Independence Exhibition Hall
2:00Pm-2:50PM
Connecting the Pipeline: Linking Programs across Grade Levels
Potomac Room
2:00Pm-2:50PM
Connecting the Pipeline: Linking Programs across Grade Levels
Potomac Room
2:00pm-2:50pM
Education Programs’ Alumni and HR Directors: Traversing the Hiring Process
Washington Room
2:00pm-2:50pM
Education Programs’ Alumni and HR Directors: Traversing the Hiring Process
Jeran Culina, Senior Manager, Business Leaders United, National Skills Coalition
Washington Room
2:00pm-2:50pM
Aviation & Aerospace Manufacturing Education Programs
TBD
2:00pm-2:50pM
Aviation & Aerospace Manufacturing Education Programs
Roger Tadajewski Executive Director of National Coalition for Certification Centers (NC3)
TBD
3:00pm-3:50Pm
Integrating Programs with Regional Networks
Potomac Room
3:00pm-3:50Pm
Integrating Programs with Regional Networks
Potomac Room
3:00PM-3:50PM
Commercial Space Requirements Impact on the Workforce
Washington Room
3:00PM-3:50PM
Commercial Space Requirements Impact on the Workforce
The government subsidizes many space projects. Commercial space endeavors need to be economically viable. This session will focus on the imp...
Washington Room
6:00PM-8:00PM
Awards Ceremony & Dinner
Conference Theater
6:00PM-8:00PM
Awards Ceremony & Dinner
Conference Theater
9:30am-10:20AM
Associations Impact on the Workforce
Washington Room
9:30am-10:20AM
Associations Impact on the Workforce
Stuart Pettis, Director of STEM Education Programs Air and Space Forces Association
Washington Room
9:30Am-11:30Am
Networking Session
Independence Exhibition Hall
9:30Am-11:30Am
Networking Session
Independence Exhibition Hall
10:30AM-11:30AM
Current Methods of Tracking Students into the Workforce
Potomac Room
10:30AM-11:30AM
Current Methods of Tracking Students into the Workforce
Potomac Room
10:30am-11:30AM
Emerging Space Workforce Needs: Geospatial, Interdisciplinary Teams with Engineers
Washington Room
10:30am-11:30AM
Emerging Space Workforce Needs: Geospatial, Interdisciplinary Teams with Engineers
Space initiatives will require engineers to work in interdisciplinary teams with others from fields like chemistry, biology, sociology, psyc...
Washington Room
11:45AM-1:00pM
Lunch
Regency Foyer
11:45AM-1:00pM
Lunch
Regency Foyer
1:10Pm-2:00PM
New Methods and Criteria for Tracking Students into the Workforce
Potomac Room
1:10Pm-2:00PM
New Methods and Criteria for Tracking Students into the Workforce
Jeff Coppola , Executive VP AEPA & Deputy Director, Real World Design Challenge
David Purser, Director of Education Dee Howard International ...
Potomac Room
1:10Pm-2:00PM
A&D Workforce Needs: What are the differences between Primes & Suppliers in areas of need
Washington Room
1:10Pm-2:00PM
A&D Workforce Needs: What are the differences between Primes & Suppliers in areas of need
Such as Manufacturing, Engineering, Automation and Cyber Security. Exploration of workforce exchange programs
Washington Room
1:10PM-2:00PM
Real World Aviation & Aerospace Competitions: Providing Experience at the K-12 Level
TBD
1:10PM-2:00PM
Real World Aviation & Aerospace Competitions: Providing Experience at the K-12 Level
Ralph Coppola , CEO AEPA & Executive Director, Real World Design Challenge
TBD
1:10PM-2:30PM
Networking Session
Independence Exhibition Hall
1:10PM-2:30PM
Networking Session
Independence Exhibition Hall
2:10Pm-3:00PM
Aviation Certification Requirements Impacting the Workforce:
Potomac Room
2:10Pm-3:00PM
Aviation Certification Requirements Impacting the Workforce:
Pilots, Maintenance, Air Traffic Controllers, Dispatchers
Eric Zimmerman, Flight Chief Dispatcher American Airlines
Craighton Miller, Syst...
Potomac Room
2:10Pm-3:00PM
A&D Workforce Retention: Tailor Programs to Individual Needs
Washington Room
2:10Pm-3:00PM
A&D Workforce Retention: Tailor Programs to Individual Needs
Skills Based Approach to Talent Management; Empower Employees with Mission & Purpose
Jeran Culina, Senior Manager, Business Leaders United, ...
Washington Room
3:10PM-4:30PM
Closing Ceremony
Conference Theater
3:10PM-4:30PM
Closing Ceremony
Conference Theater
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