As the Chair of the Aerospace States Association (ASA) and Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, I welcome you to the ASA website. We at ASA care passionately about the future of aerospace and aviation in America

The aerospace Industry is the engine that defends our nation, drives our economy, and provides Americans with highly paid jobs. In 2007 it generated $199 billion in sales for the U.S. economy. It employed over 645,600 Americans in highly paid jobs in every state across our nation. The aerospace industry generated a record trade surplus of $60.4 billion and generated from fully $97 billion in exports. Our national security, our economic vitality, and our national mobility rely on a strong aerospace sector.

ASA is a nonpartisan organization of Lt. Governors and other top-ranking state leaders, from every state. ASA represents states’ interests in federal aerospace and aviation policy development. ASA advocates on behalf of all fifty states for R&D funding, workforce training, economic development in aerospace and aviation, excellence in math and science education in every state, and keeping states competitive in a global marketplace. As leaders in our state governments, ASA members not only impact policy at the state level, but also at the federal level, by informing our congressional delegations on aerospace priorities.

Each year ASA conducts hearings before our Lt. Governor members on key aerospace issues. We receive testimony from members of Congress, the Federal Government, industry, and academia. ASA then develops resolutions on behalf of the states and presents them to the President and appropriate Congressional Committees. The testimony and the resolutions are posted on this website after each hearing.

ASA is now hosting a forum on the Aviation Week & Space Technology website. This forum is providing the opportunity to learn about the aerospace activities in each state, interact with the policy makers in the states, and provides the opportunity for open and sweeping response on the aerospace issues and work of each state across the Country. You can link to it at http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/forums/forummain/index.jsp We look forward to hearing your comments and issues there.

We are committed to enacting state-based initiatives to strengthen our nation’s leadership in aviation, space and aerospace. We are committed to inspiring a younger generation to innovate, explore and build. We are committed to educating young Americans to lead the world in science, technology, math and engineering. We are committed to linking the global community in peace and commerce via air travel.

Please click on the map below for Aerospace/State links.