ExecutiveReportA Quarterly Digest from the Aerospace Industries Association 2nd Quarter 2014

Future rocketeer at 2014 Team America Rocketry Challenge

2014 OFFICERSMichael T. Strianese, ChairmanDavid L. Joyce, Vice ChairmanMarion C. Blakey, President & Chief Executive Officer Ginette C. Colot, Secretary-Treasurer

2014 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEWilliam M. BrownPresident & Chief Executive OfficerHarris Corporation

Wes BushChairman, Chief Executive Officer and PresidentNorthrop Grumman Corporation

Gerald J. DeMuroPresident & Chief Executive OfficerBAE Systems, Inc.

Scott C. DonnellyChairman & Chief Executive OfficerTextron Inc.

David P. HessChairman, International Aero Engines Board of DirectorsUnited Technologies Corporation

Marillyn HewsonChief Executive Officer, President & Chairman of the BoardLockheed Martin Corporation

Raanan HorowitzPresident & Chief Executive OfficerElbit Systems of America

David L. JoycePresident & Chief Executive OfficerGE Aviation

John S. LangfordChairman & Chief Executive OfficerAurora Flight Sciences

Tim O. MahoneyPresident & Chief Executive OfficerHoneywell Aerospace

Thomas S. MarottaChairman and Chief Executive OfficerMarotta Controls, Inc.

David F. MelcherChief Executive Officer & PresidentExelis, Inc.

Dennis A. MuilenburgVice Chairman, President & Chief Operating OfficerThe Boeing Company

Phebe NovakovicChairman & Chief Executive OfficerGeneral Dynamics Corporation

Michael T. StrianeseChairman, President & Chief Executive OfficerL-3 Communications

William H. SwansonChairman & Chief Executive OfficerRaytheon Company

Scott ThamsChief Executive OfficerIntegrity Aerospace Group, Inc.

President’sMessageWe’re less than four months away from what could be a critical election for our

nation’s aerospace and defense industry. When voters go to the polls to elect

the 435 members of the House of Representatives, and one-third of the Senate’s

membership, such matters as the future direction of budgets and policy for national

security, space exploration and civil aviation could hang in the balance. Also, 36 races

for governor’s seats and battles for control of state houses across the land will influence

funding for STEM education and regulations on how we manage the civil air space.

While non-presidential elections may not carry the same drama as the quadrennial

contest for the White House, the stunning primary upset of House Majority Leader Eric

Cantor demonstrates that anything can happen when the electorate speaks.

Our industry learned this lesson the hard way four years ago, when a wave of political

newcomers came to Washington after the 2010 mid-term elections with no knowledge of

our industry and determined to cut the debt and deficit above any other consideration—

including the need to adequately fund national security, NASA’s and NOAA’s space

activities and the FAA.

We began the Second to None campaign following that election to defend the vital

interests of our industry and the workers who support it. We’ve had some successes

along the way, including the Congressional-White House agreement to limit the severity

of planned budget cuts in Fiscal Years 2014-2015. But now, faced with a return to the

debilitating budget caps in Fiscal Year 2016 and beyond, and a political environment that

continues to be volatile, our advocacy must become even more potent.

With this pressing need in mind, at AIA’s Board of Governors and Membership Meeting

in May we launched a major new initiative – the transition of the Second to None budget

education campaign to a formal, on-line grassroots Coalition that will serve as the hub for

our advocacy efforts in Washington and beyond. The Second to None Coalition’s purpose

is to engage tens of thousands of supportive citizens in order to send strong messages to

elected officials and those who seek office. Coalition members will communicate that for

the good of our nation we must reverse the current fiscal course and expand investments

for national security capabilities, space technologies and the modernization of the air

Second to None Steams Ahead

About the Cover: Brooke, daughter of AIA’s Vice President for National Security and Acquisition Policy Betsy Schmid, visiting NASA’s booth at this year’s Team America Rocketry Challenge national finals. ( Photo by Adam Kostecki)

E X E C U T I V E R E P O R T 3

transportation system and enact

policies that support our workforce and

industrial base.

The Coalition will help keep pace

with the way the world of advocacy

and political influence is continuously

evolving to stay current with today’s

24/7, always-connected society. Groups

such as the AARP and NRA have

mastered the art of on-line grassroots

advocacy, using highly sophisticated

data mining and issue engagement

techniques. We intend to rise to their

level of effectiveness. After all, the

single most influential voice for elected

officials in Washington to hear is that of

their own constituents. And politicians

need to know there is broad-based

public support for the programs and

policies that are essential to our

industry’s livelihood.

To help make our Coalition a vital

new force in the public sphere, we’re

asking that members of the aerospace

and defense community be made

aware of the Coalition and informed

of how this initiative will be at the

heart of our efforts to protect their

jobs and America’s future. And most

importantly, we hope you will encourage

your employees to join the Coalition

immediately, with communications that

make it clear this is a voluntary activity

to be done on their personal time with

their personal communications devices.

To support companies’ promotion of

the Coalition with employees, we’ve

developed a number of marketing

tools – email templates, a postcard that

can be mailed to employees’ homes,

a break room poster and more. These

materials are available for download at

secondtonone.org/membertools.

We will grow the numbers of our

Coalition with an active social media

presence on sites such as Facebook

and LinkedIn. At our Coalition’s web

site, www.secondtonone.org, detailed

information about aerospace and

defense issues, and timely action alerts

will be presented to coalition members

who fit in three broad categories:

aerospace and defense workers; active

duty and retired military personnel; and

aerospace and defense supporters.

When action alerts are sent to members

of the Coalition, for example on an issue

such as a pending vote to reauthorize

the Export Import Bank of the United

States, coalition members in each

of these categories will be provided

suggested messages that they can

easily send not only to the President,

their U.S. Senators and Representative,

but also to local officials and to their

home town newspaper if they wish. We

will also provide coalition members with

specific information about their state’s

voting laws and encourage them to

exercise their franchise, so that precinct

by precinct, the number of aerospace

and defense supporters who vote this

November will grow significantly.

I’m tremendously gratified by the

support our members have provided the

Second to None campaign in its initial

stages. Now, with the help of engaged

citizens who know how vital our industry

is to America’s main streets, we’re

poised to make a huge difference in our

advocacy for this great industry.

Marion C. BlakeyPresident & Chief Executive Officer

“Coalition members will communicate that for the good of our nation we must reverse the current fiscal course and expand investments for national security capabilities, space technologies and the modernization of the air transportation system and enact policies that support our workforce and the industrial base.”

4 A E R O S P A C E I N D U S T R I E S A S S O C I A T I O N

Washington health policy expert Emily Holubowich is the founding co-chair of the Coalition for Health Funding’s Non Defense Discretionary (NDD) United campaign. NDD United is a coalition of 3,200 organizations working to protect funding for core government services that benefit everyone – including medical research, public health, infrastructure, scientific research and education. Holubowich recently spoke with the Executive Report about NDD United’s work and its support for AIA’s Second to None campaign.

AIA: Can you describe NDD United’s mission and why you joined forces with AIA on the Second to None campaign?Holubowich: During the debate over the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, it became clear to those of us fighting the cuts

that many Americans didn’t fully understand the essential role the government plays in their daily lives. It was also clear that the conventional “go it alone” approach to advocacy wasn’t working. So we formed NDD United, an alliance of hundreds of national, state and local organizations across all nondefense sectors, from education and public health, to infrastructure and environment. Working collaboratively, we’ve been educating policymakers, the media, and the public about the need to fight against fiscal austerity.

Because NDD United is rooted in the idea that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” we’re happy to join forces with AIA. Cuts to defense and nondefense programs have borne a disproportionate share of responsibility for deficit reduction—even though bipartisan experts agree discretionary programs are not driving our debt. In this political and fiscal environment it’s clear we rise and fall together, so it only makes sense to work together.

AIA: What points of commonality are there between the interests of the aerospace and defense industry and groups advocating for government’s core domestic functions that might surprise people?

Holubowich: We have so much more in common than people realize! The aerospace and defense industry benefits directly from nondefense investments in public health, education, and job training, as these programs produce the qualified and capable workforce needed to support technical, highly-skilled jobs.

Defense and nondefense programs are both essential to scientific discovery. The DOD, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and NASA are principal funders of the nation’s research enterprise. Investments by these and other federal agencies in research have positioned the U.S. as a beacon of innovation.

Where would Americans be if we didn’t have weather forecasting to know when and where a hurricane will hit? If we didn’t have air traffic control to help us travel safely, or public transit to get to and from work each day? Defense and nondefense discretionary investments are inextricably linked and equally essential in making the American way of life possible.

Q&A With Emily J. HolubowichCo-Chair, NDD UnitedExecutive Director, Coalition for Health FundingSenior Vice President, Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates

Holubowich speaking at a December 2013 event that brought together

a broad range of organizations representing academia, healthcare,

business and manufacturing to discuss the consequences of sequestration budget cuts on America’s workforce.

E X E C U T I V E R E P O R T 5

AIA: How will the proposed budget caps negatively impact innovation in America and the education and training of our future workforce?

Holubowich: We were once considered the indisputable global leader in innovation, but now America is falling behind our global competitors after stagnant investment that has failed to keep pace with inflation. The BCA spending caps coupled with sequestration have further stifled innovation and more troubling, discouraged the next generation of American scientists.

In NDD United’s Faces of Austerity report, we reported on a biochemist working on a first-of-its-kind synthetic heparin, who because of the budget cuts cancelled plans to hire more researchers in his laboratory and delayed his research. Our nation’s obsession with deficit reduction has created an innovation deficit. Without action by Congress to reverse the spending caps, I fear we will face a lost decade of research.

America’s workforce also faces a lost decade: Graduate students changing careers after watching mentors struggle to maintain a research operation; undergraduate students unable to secure summer research positions; and disadvantaged high school students unable to pursue college at all due to cuts in federal financial aid programs such as TRIO.

Americans think a quarter of the federal budget goes to education. In reality, the federal investment in education and job training is only 2.5 percent and shrinking. As the wealthiest, most powerful nation on earth we can afford to do better.

AIA: Is it possible to convince policy makers in the current environment to lift the budget caps?Holubowich: Lifting the spending caps won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. We are making progress. When we started

NDD United, policymakers wouldn’t believe us when we told them that cuts to discretionary programs alone won’t appreciably reduce the debt. Today these same elected officials say, “we know these programs are not the problem.” Unfortunately, there remains little political will to do what needs to be done, namely, raise revenue and reform health care entitlements.

We believe policymakers will revisit the BCA as the deficit continues to fall, stories about the costs of austerity come to the fore, and constituents keep the pressure on to change course. Continued and coordinated outreach

will be essential to achieving this goal. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

AIA: Where do you see the future of this partnership going?Holubowich: If there’s anything positive that has come from the BCA, it’s the NDD United and AIA partnership! Even if Congress

were to decide to lift the spending caps tomorrow, there is value in continuing to work together. Discretionary spending will always be an easy target for cuts, as Americans don’t often recognize the direct benefit of defense and domestic programs on their quality of life—until it’s taken away. It’s up to us to continue to make the case. I look forward to continuing to work with AIA to educate Americans about the good that government does for them every day.

AIA, NDD United and the Task Force for American Innovation joined together in February 2013 to urge the President and Congress to work to find a permanent, bipartisan solution to sequestration. Holubowich (center) was joined on the panel by: Peter McPherson, President of Association of Public and Land-grant

Universities; Marion C. Blakey, President and CEO of AIA; Wes Bush, 2013 Chairman of AIA and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Northrop Grumman Corporation; and Hunter Rawlings, President of the Association of American Universities

6 A E R O S P A C E I N D U S T R I E S A S S O C I A T I O N

T he aerospace and defense industry’s transition to

“standards as digital data” is picking up speed as more

than 25 manufacturers in the sector are currently eyeing

adoption of the AIA/National Aerospace Standards 3D CAD

Model Solution.

Released in January, the 3D solution is the result of a

partnership between AIA, CADENAS PARTsolutions and IHS.

The solution makes available authorized 3D computer-aided

design (CAD) models of components based on critical

National Aerospace Standards parts.

“AIA has a long and proud history serving the needs of the

aerospace and defense industry through our National Aerospace

Standards program,” said AIA President and CEO Marion C.

Blakey. “The AIA/NAS 3D catalog is an innovative step forward

for providing digital standards that can help the industry design

and manufacture products faster and at a lower cost.”

Engineers spend as much as 40 percent of their time

researching and creating standard parts, according to

industry analysts. An engineer may spend eight hours or

more creating and configuring a model for just one AIA/NAS

standard part, while a single airframe platform might require

parts based on hundreds of standards.

Moreover, the majority of airframe and major systems

manufacturers in the industry today are operating on

multiple CAD software platforms.

The AIA/NAS 3D CAD Model Solution addresses these

challenges by providing engineers easy options for quickly

configuring and downloading a 3D CAD model of a part

based on the required standard. Models are available in 150

native and neutral CAD platforms and versions.

AIA/NAS 3D Digital Standards Solution Gaining Market Traction

AIA Welcomes New Members!AIA’s Executive Committee has approved six new Full Members and three Associate Members.

Congratulations and a very warm welcome on behalf of all of us here at the Aerospace Industries Association!

Arnold Magnetic Technologies –Precision Thin Metals DivisionAviation Management Associates, Inc.New Bedford Panoramex Corporation

New Associate MembersNew Full Member Companies

Astronautics Corporation of AmericaC4 Associates, Inc.

C2 Technologies, Inc.SecureRF

Spacecraft Components CorporationVerify, Inc.

E X E C U T I V E R E P O R T 7

AIA Full Member Companies

AIA Associate Member Companies

3M CompanyAAR Manufacturing, Inc.ACE Clearwater EnterprisesAccentureAcutec Precision MachiningAccurus Aerospace Corporation, LLCAerojet RocketdyneAero-Mark, LLCAero Mechanical IndustriesAGC Aerospace & DefenseAireon, LLCAlcoa DefenseAlign Aerospace, LLCAllfast Fastening Systems, Inc.Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (ATK)AlliedBarton Security ServicesAllied Telesis, Inc.American Pacific CorporationAnalytical Graphics, Inc.Astronautics Corporation of AmericaAurora Flight SciencesAusco, Inc.AvascentB&E Group, LLCB/E Aerospace, Inc.BAE Systems Ball Aerospace & Technologies CorporationBarnes Aerospace

Belcan CorporationBenchmark Electronics, Inc.The Boeing CompanyBombardier AerospaceC2 Technologies, Inc.C4 Associates, Inc.CADENAS PARTsolutions, LLCCadence AerospaceCamcode Division of Horizons, Inc.Castle Metals AerospaceCelestica, Inc.Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation Click Bond, Inc.Cobham, plc Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)CPI AerostructuresCrane Aerospace & ElectronicsCubic CorporationCurtiss-Wright Corporation Cyient Ltd. (formerly Infotech Enterprises)Deloitte Consulting, LLPDenison IndustriesDigitalGlobeDucommun, Inc.DuPont CompanyEaton Aerospace OperationsElbit Systems of America

Embraer Aircraft Holding, Inc.ENSCO Avionics, Inc.EPS CorporationErickson Air-Crane, Inc.Ernst & Young, LLPESI North AmericaESIS, Inc.Esterline TechnologiesExelis Inc.Exostar, LLCFlextronics International USAFlight Safety InternationalFluor CorporationFS Precision Tech, LLCFTG Circuits, Inc.Galaxy TechnologiesGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.General Dynamics CorporationGeneral Electric AviationGKN Aerospace North AmericaGuardsmark, LLCHarris CorporationHCL America, Inc.HEICO CorporationHexcel CorporationHoneywell AerospaceHP, Enterprise ServicesHuntington Ingalls IndustriesIBM Corporation

IEC Electronics Corporation Celmet IEC Electronics - Albuquerque IEC Electronics Wire and Cable Inc. Southern California Braiding, Inc.J Anthony Group, LLCJabil Defense & Aerospace Services, LLCKaman Aerospace CorporationKPMG, LLPL-3 Communications Corporation LAI International, Inc.Leidos CorporationLMI Aerospace, Inc.Lockheed Martin CorporationLord CorporationMarotta Controls, Inc.Mayday HoldingsMeggitt-USA Inc.Micro-Coax, Inc.Microsemi CorporationMoog, Inc.Natel Electronic Manufacturing ServicesNational Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS)NORDAMNorthrop Grumman Corporation NYLOK, LLC

O’Neil & AssociatesOntic Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc.Oracle USA, Inc.Oxford Performance MaterialsPacifica Engineering, Inc.The Padina Group (TPG), Inc.Parker AerospacePlex Systems, Inc.Plexus CorporationPPG Aerospace-Sierracin Corporation PriceWaterhouseCoopers Aerospace & Defense Advisory ServicesPTCRAF Tabtronics, LLCRaytheon CompanyRhinestahl CorporationRIX IndustriesRockwell CollinsRolls-Royce North America, Inc.RTI International Metals, Inc.SAICSAP America, Inc.SatairSCB Training Center Inc.Seal Science, Inc.SecureRFSecuritas Critical Infrastructure Services, Inc. (formerly Pinkerton Government Services, Inc.)

Siemens PLM SoftwareSierra Nevada Space SystemsSIFCO Industries, Inc.SITASpacecraft Components CorporationSpace Exploration Technologies CorporationSparton CorporationSpirit AeroSystemsTASCTech Manufacturing, LLCTextron Inc.Therm, Inc.Timken Aerospace TransmissionsTriumph Group, Inc.United Parcel ServiceUnited Technologies Corporation Goodrich Corporation Hamilton Sundstrand Pratt & Whitney SikorskyVerify, Inc.Virgin Galactic, LLCWesco Aircraft Hardware CorporationWoodward Inc.Xerox Corporation

Acme Industrial CompanyADI American Distributors, Inc.Aeronautical Systems, Inc.Aerospace Alloys, Inc.Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC)AeroVironment, Inc.AirBorn, Inc.Airfasco IndustriesAir Industries GroupAlcoa Fastening SystemsAllen Aircraft Products, Inc.Altemp Alloys, Inc.AMI Metals, Inc.Amratec EngineeringAnoplateApplied DNA Sciences, Inc.APV Manufacturing & Engineering Co.Arkwin Industries, Inc.Arnold Magnetic Technologies – Precision Thin Metals DivisionArrow Electronics, Inc.Arrowhead ProductsArundel Machine Tool Co., Inc.Asia-Pacific Engineering Consulting Services, LLCAstro-Med, Inc.Astute Electronics, Inc.ATC AerospaceAthena Manufacturing, LPAutomatic Screw Machine Products CompanyAviation Management Associates, Inc.Banneker Industries, Inc.BGA Test & TechnologyBodycote

Brogdon Machine, Inc.BRPH Architects EngineersBTC Electronic Components, Inc.Carbures USA, Inc.CDGCelltron, Inc.CERTONCIT Transportation LendingCND, LLC (formerly Cherokee Nation Distributors)Co-Operative Industries Defense, LLCCoalition Solutions Integrated, Inc.Compass Forwarding Co., Inc.Consolidated Industries, Inc.Consolidated Precision ProductsCraig TechnologiesCrestwood Technology GroupCrowell SolutionsDassault SystemesDayton T. Brown, Inc.Draken InternationalEEI Manufacturing ServicesElectralloyEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityEnterprise Florida, Inc.EP-Team, Inc.ETA Global, Inc.Etteplan/TedopresExotic Metals Forming Company, LLCFairmont Consulting GroupFerco Aerospace GroupFives Machining Systems, Inc. (formerly MAG Industrial Automation Systems, LLC)

Flatirons Solutions, Inc. (formerly InfoTrust Group)Freedom AlloysFrontier Electronic Systems CorporationFuture Metals, LLCGlovia InternationalGPS Inventory Solutions, Inc.G.S. Precision, Inc.GSE Dynamics, Inc.Haas Group InternationalHangsterfer’s Laboratories, Inc.Harry Krantz CompanyHawker Beechcraft CorporationHercules Heat Treating CorporationH&S Swansons’ Tool CompanyHDL Research Lab, Inc.Hi-Temp Insulation, Inc.Houlihan LokeyHughes Bros. Aircrafters, Inc.Hutchinson Aerospace Burbank (formerly Barry Controls Aerospace)Impresa Aerospace, LLC (formerly Venture Aircraft, LLC)Industrial Metals Intl., Ltd.InforInfosys LimitedIntegrated Support Systems, Inc.Integrity Aerospace Group, Inc. (formerly X-Ray Industries)InterConnect WiringInternational Technegroup, Inc. (TranscenData Division)ITT CorporationJanes Capital PartnersJRH Electronics, LLC

KAPCO AerospaceKitco DefenseKulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.Landstar Transportation LogisticsLMI (Logistics Management Institute)Loos & Co., Inc.The Lundquist GroupMaterion Brush, Inc. (formerly Brush Wellman, Inc.)Meehan Electronics CorporationMerex Aircraft Company, Inc.Meyer Tool, Inc.Mid-Continent EngineeringMid-State Aerospace, Inc.Millitech, Inc.Monogram Aerospace FastenersMontana Metal Products, LLCMorris Machine Company, Inc.National Machine GroupNational Utilities CompanyNew Bedford Panoramex CorporationNew Breed CorporationNorfil, LLCNorton/Saint-GobainOhio Aerospace InstituteOerlikon BalzersPacific Precision ProductsPall Aeropower Corporation PARPROPassur AerospacePaulo Products CompanyPCC Forged ProductsPentecom, LLCPerillo Industries, Inc.

Phillips Screw CompanyPiedmont Triad Airport AuthorityPlymouth Engineered ShapesPointe Precision, Inc.Precision Gear, Inc.Precision Tube BendingRadant Technologies, Inc.RAM CompanyRenaissance ServicesRenaissance Strategic Advisors, LLCRocker IndustriesRSI (formerlyAerospacemall.com)Safran USASamuel Aerospace MetalsScot Forge CorporationSDL (formerly XyEnterprise)SEAKR Engineering, Inc.Sechan Electronics, Inc.SELEX Galileo (formerly SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems US, Inc.)Senior AerospaceSerco, Inc.Service Steel AerospaceServotronics, Inc.SICPASolar Atmospheres, Inc.Southco, Inc.Southern Manufacturing TechnologiesSpecial Aerospace ServicesSpincraftSpirit Electronics, LLCSPX Precision ComponentsStanley Engineered Fastening (formerly Emhart Teknologies) Black & Decker Company

Starrag USA, Inc.Stroco Manufacturing, Inc.Sugasawa CorporationSystecTactair Fluid Controls Inc.Tata Consultancy Services (formerly TCS America)TCITechSolve, Inc.TEK Precision Co., Ltd.Telephonics CorporationTEVET, LLCThales USA, Inc.Thermacore, Inc.ThyssenKrupp Aerospace North AmericaTiodize Co., Inc.Torotel Products, Inc.TSI Plastics, Inc.TTI, Inc.TTM Technologies, Inc.TW MetalsUEC ElectronicsUmbra Cuscinetti, Inc.United Precision Products Company, Inc.USAeroteam, Inc.UT College of Business Aerospace & Defense Portfolio (formerly University of Tennessee - Aerospace Defense Clearing House)W.G. Henschen CompanyW.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Whitcraft, LLCWindings, Inc.Yarde Metals

AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIAT ION1000 Wilson Blvd. #1700 Arlington, VA 22209-3928 Phone 703.358.1000 www.aia-aerospace.org

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Team Rocket Power, an all-girl Team America Rocketry Challenge squad from Maryland’s Prince George’s and

Ann Arundel counties, exhibited their rockets at the fourth White House Science Fair on May 27. The three-girl team was invited to join the White House’s celebration recognizing a range of national programs that encourage students to engage and excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

This year’s Fair hosted students from a number of competitions across the country, specifically focusing on girls and women who are excelling in STEM-related fields and inspiring younger students with their work. Tenth graders Jasmyn Logan and Nia’mani Robinson and high school senior Rebecca Chapin-Ridgley from Team Rocket Power have been doing just that.

At the Fair Jasmyn, Rebecca and Nia’Mani met with STEM advocates from a number of backgrounds and shared how TARC has positively influenced each of them and their educational aspirations. A highlight for the group was to

meet with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. In a blog entry about his experience at the Fair, Bolden explained the importance of women in STEM and their involvement at NASA: “At NASA, women are not only astronauts; they also run science missions. They engineer and build our many spacecraft. They serve in every capacity and continue to prove something we all know — as Amelia Earhart famously said, men and women are equal ‘in jobs requiring intelligence, coordination, speed, coolness and willpower.’ ”

TARC has proven to be an invaluable source of inspiration over its 12-year history, attracting young talent to STEM-focused areas of study and, ultimately, careers throughout its tenure. Team Rocket Power is just one example of American youth answering the President’s call to close the gap for women and other underrepresented groups to excel in STEM-related fields. This is the fourth year a TARC team has been invited to participate in the White House Science Fair and the second all-girl team to exhibit on behalf of the thousands of TARC alumni across the country.

Team America Rocketry Challenge: Bridging the Gap for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Since 2002

Team Rocket Power members Nia’mani Robinson, Jasmyn Logan and and Rebecca Chapin-Ridgley with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at the 2014 White House Science Fair

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