Northwest Aerospace News February | March Issue No. 13 | Page 66

LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance’s (PNAA) 19th Annual Aerospace Conference, Plug
into Potential: Harnessing Opportunity in Aerospace.
Over more than a century, Washington State’s aerospace industry has grown into one of the world’s
great centers of innovation and advances in the design and manufacturing of air and spacecraft. It drives
economic vitality all over the state, from here around Puget Sound to Grant County in central Washington,
to our border economic centers of Spokane to the east and Columbia River to the south.
But we aren’t letting up. We will continue to welcome incredible new aerospace opportunities to our
state.
Closely aligned with our region’s robust technology sector, engineers, software developers and business
leaders are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain to advance the
future of commercial and military aviation and space. We are increasing fuel efficiency and biofuels use,
advancing composite materials and precision manufacturing, improving safety and redefining the in-flight
experience for all of the world’s major airlines.
Chief among the competitive advantages of this region, are over 136,000 of the most talented and
productive aerospace workers in the industry today. And one of the most important investments we must
make is continued support for our next generation workforce.
For ongoing success, aerospace employers must be nimble, supported by a ready pipeline of the best-
educated, best-trained talent in the world, with skills that surpass all others. Aerospace workers must
have future-forward knowledge and tech skills needed to meet the changing demands of an industry that
thrives on precision and innovation.
I am proud that my Career Connect Washington initiative expands these opportunities for youth and
adults in aerospace, advanced manufacturing and other high-demand industries. Because not all paths
to successful careers go through four-year universities, we’ve partnered with industry and our K-12
and community and technical college systems to increase investments in employer-driven education,
apprenticeships and training programs. We will continue to make these opportunities available to
students all over the state.
This emphasis on education and training is just one example of the comprehensive industry strategy
and successful public-private partnerships at work for aerospace excellence in Washington state. The
strength of our industry was validated once again in two separate, independent studies in 2019: the Teal
Report ranked Washington the undisputed best and most competitive location for aerospace design
and manufacturing, and PricewaterhouseCoopers ranked us #1 in its annual report on global aerospace
manufacturing attractiveness.
Working together, through organizations like PNAA, we can all look forward to the next century of
aerospace leadership in the Pacific Northwest. I hope that you have many productive contacts during the
conference that will help us to continue meeting the industry’s biggest challenges and most audacious
goals.
Thank you for attending!
Jay Inslee
Governor
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NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS
PNAA ADVANCE / 2020