Joining them in the exhibit space were officials from the Economic Alliance Snohomish County ; the Economic Development Board for Tacoma Pierce County ; Greater Seattle Partners ; Port of Moses Lake ; Paine Field Airport ; S3R3 Solutions ; Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance ; and Northwest Aerospace News Magazine .
Washington ’ s theme , “ Leading the Way in Building a Sustainable Future ,” highlighted the state ’ s pioneering efforts in automation , robotics , and sustainable aviation fuels , underscoring its commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship .
The five days at the show were filled with events and meetings , including a welcome reception at The Shard , which attracted global aerospace industry leaders , business decision-makers , and government officials from Washington and the UK .
The week kicked off with a dynamic start as Lt . Governor Denny Heck , Washington State Senator Andy Billig , and Commerce ’ s Keith Swenson led the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Choose Washington Pavilion . Their opening remarks set a tone of optimism and ambition for the days ahead .
In the U . S . Pavilion on Tuesday morning , Lt . Governor Heck led a discussion on “ Innovation and Sustainability in Aerospace : Perspectives from Washington State .” Panelists included Brian Young , Commerce ’ s Clean Technology Sector Lead ; Val Miftakhov , CEO of ZeroAvia ; Kyle Skalisky , CEO of CheckSix ; and Tommy Gantz , Director of Business Development for TLG Aerospace . Additionally , the majority of our delegation participated in marathon meetings — akin to speed dating sessions — with representatives from Northern Ireland at the Invest Northern Ireland Pavilion .
State Senator Andy Billig led a second panel discussion on Wednesday . The topic , “ Achieving Net-Zero : The Role of Innovation , Technology , and Government in the Aerospace Industry ,” focused on the pivotal role of governments , technological advancements , and the broader ecosystem .
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