Governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia joined the Aerospace Industries Association at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 20 to outline state-level strategies for building the aerospace and defense workforce.
In a fireside chat moderated by Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Eric Fanning, Sanders and Spanberger discussed how states are partnering with industry, educational institutions, and local communities to support growth in aerospace and defense. Both governors said these sectors are key to economic development, job creation, and national security in their states. “Our number one export is aerospace and defense,” Sanders said. “We love that we get to say that we’re playing a part in the protection and the defense of our country.” Spanberger added, “It’s really important to Virginia that we have continued growth in the aerospace and defense sectors. We have long been a place where defense-oriented, aerospace-oriented, and space-oriented companies endeavor to grow, and we want to make sure that as we’re looking toward the future, we don’t get complacent.”
The governors highlighted workforce development as a priority beginning with early education through higher education, technical training programs, apprenticeships, internships, and career-transition initiatives. Sanders said: “We know if we’re starting when they’re seniors in high school, you’ve already lost. We want them either to be enrolled, enlisted, or employed.” Spanberger said: “We have really put a prioritization on workforce training and apprenticeship programs. We are working directly with employers to ensure they have access to the talent pool and can engage directly with our universities and training programs to get the talent they need.”
Both leaders pointed out that veterans represent an important source of skilled labor for aerospace companies due to their mission-focused experience. Spanberger said: “These are industries where people who have been mission-oriented in their military service can continue that mission-oriented work in the defense sector and aerospace industries. Ensuring companies understand the workforce that we bring to bear is a clear priority for our Commonwealth.” Sanders added: “We want Arkansas to be the best place in the country for a veteran to live after their service is completed… ensuring they have a job when that training is finished.”
The discussion also focused on public-private partnerships as essential for closing skills gaps by connecting employers with educators at all levels. Sanders said: “Having a great partnership from start to finish… really makes a big difference,” while Spanberger encouraged collaboration between industry needs assessments and university curricula.
Sanders emphasized reducing barriers for business investment by streamlining permitting processes while investing in site readiness initiatives; Spanberger stressed speed as critical for attracting new projects.
The Aerospace Industries Association operates within this sector supporting manufacturers through advocacy efforts such as diversity initiatives; policy development related to national security; promoting international business ethics; networking opportunities via councils; and access standards, all according to the official website.