The Aerospace States Association (ASA) is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization comprising Lieutenant Governors, Governor-appointed delegates, state legislators, territorial and tribal government representatives. Associate members come from aerospace businesses, organizations, and academia working to advance aerospace and aviation in member states and throughout the nation. ASA is the only aerospace advocacy organization promoting state-based perspectives on federal aerospace policy.
ASA advocates on behalf of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the territories, and tribal nations to keep America strong with vibrant and robust aerospace programs that lead the world in exploration, innovation, and technology, ensure national and economic security, and improve life here on Earth. We support research and development funding, workforce training, economic development in aerospace, excellence in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and keeping states competitive in a global marketplace.
ASA brings together aviation and space interests across each state,the District of Columbia, the territories, and tribal nations to educate legislators, councilmembers, and other officials on specific issues and provides networking opportunities to grow jobs and expand economic development. As leaders in our state, the District of Columbia, the territories, and tribal nations governments, ASA members not only impact policy at that level, but also at the federal level by informing our congressional delegations onaerospace priorities.
ASA is committed to:
· Enacting state, the District of Columbia, the territories, and tribal nations -based initiatives to strengthen our nation’s leadership in aviation and aerospace;
· Supporting the aerospace and aviation industries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the territories, and tribal nations to strengthen industry contributions to our economies;
· Inspiring a younger generation to innovate, explore, and build;
· Educating young Americans to lead the world in science, technology, engineering, and math; and
· Linking the global community in peace and commerce via air travel.
ROLE OF THE STATES IN SUPPORT OF AEROSPACE
- Educate and train aerospace professionals (the next generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs) who will develop the next generation aviation system and pioneer the frontiers of space
- Develop, test and incubate new technologies across a wide spectrum of corporate, academic, and private innovation infrastructures
- Sponsor aerospace conferences and business roundtables to enable networking among key aerospace leaders
- Facilitate attractive tax structures, leverage venture capital, and seed public-private partnerships to promote entrepreneurship and expand space enterprise
- Provide adequate infrastructure (e.g., airports, spaceports, roads, communications, internet access) and leverage unique geographical assets (e.g., landforms, location, climate) to develop terrestrial analog test sites
- Dedicate public lands for airports, space launch and other aerospace-related activities, and create research and education centers to both support these programs and facilitate technology transfer
- Convey the multiple scientific, educational and commercial benefits of space exploration to the general public
