Participating in the Aerospace Summit will be FreeFall Aerospace, maker of the patented Inflatable Antenna System that is the world’s lightest and most compact deployable high-gain antenna.
Separate roads, same destination.
That was the challenge when the Arizona Technology Council was looking for a way to help accelerate collaboration and innovation throughout Arizona’s growing aerospace economy while highlighting the state’s expanding leadership in aerospace, aviation, space and defense.
The solution debuts July 15 at the 2026 Arizona Aerospace Summit presented by the Council and The University of Arizona at the Tucson Convention Center Grand Ballroom.
This year’s event marks a significant milestone as the event brings together what previously had been three separate industry gatherings: the Arizona Space Summit, which was formally transitioned to the Council by Arizona State University; the Advanced Air Mobility Summit; and the Council’s Aerospace, Aviation, Defense & Manufacturing Conference.
The unified format is intended to strengthen cross-sector collaboration, elevate statewide dialogue and create a larger platform for industry growth.
“Arizona’s aerospace and space ecosystem is evolving rapidly, and collaboration across industry sectors has never been more important,” says Steven G. Zylstra, the Council’s president and CEO. “By combining these established events into one statewide summit, we are creating a single destination where leaders can align on strategy, showcase innovation and help shape Arizona’s future as a global aerospace hub.”
The state already has a head start. According to labor market data firm Lightcast, Arizona in 2024 was No. 1 for concentration of guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing, and optics and photonic manufacturing job growth. Add to that the state was in the top two for largest guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing employment in 2024. Also in 2024, Arizona was in the top five for concentration of aerospace and defense manufacturing, as well as largest aerospace and defense employment.
The industry already has been well-represented in the Council’s Aerospace, Aviation, Space, and Defense Committee, formed to position Arizona as a global hub of excellence in these fields. The committee drives innovation and addresses critical challenges in these sectors by encouraging collaboration among industry leaders, academia, government agencies and emerging companies.
By convening industry primes (e.g., contractors), startups, governments, investors and international clusters around shared infrastructure and deep-tech convergence, the summit will accelerate what typically takes years: forming partnerships, aligning capital and making commitments. The outcome won’t be speculation about the future of aerospace; it will be tangible progress toward how integrated aerospace will operate in the decade ahead.
The event will feature a three-track program designed to connect the sectors through shared priorities in supply chains, testbeds, capital and workforce. The tracks and their respective sectors include:
Flightline – advanced air mobility and aviation
Orbitline – space and space-enabled services
Frontline – defense, dual-use and manufacturing
Each track will feature a discussion based on the following integrated agenda topics:
Demand Signal – Where missions and funding are going
Reindustrialization – From demand to capacity, building the industrial base
Build the Platform – Testbeds, ranges and cross-border infrastructure
State-Level Competition – Turning demand, capability and platform into industrial scale
Speakers will include Jim Bridenstine, CEO of Quantum Space, former NASA administrator and U.S. representative; Timothy Gallaudet, CEO of Ocean STL Consulting, former acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and retired U.S. Navy rear admiral; Robin Rand, president and CEO of the Kyl Institute for National Security, retired general who served as commander of Air Force Global Strike Command; and Col. Charles Seaberry, recently appointed commander of the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground.
For details and to register, please visit www.aztechcouncil.org/event/az-aerospace-summit-2026/.
