PHOENIX - s4story -- The Arizona Technology Council, alongside presenting sponsor The University of Arizona, today announced featured speakers, agenda highlights and programming for the inaugural Arizona Aerospace Summit, taking place Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the Tucson Convention Center. The daylong event will bring together leaders from aerospace, aviation, defense, space, advanced air mobility, manufacturing, academia and government for programming focused on innovation, collaboration and growth across Arizona's aerospace ecosystem.

This year's event marks a significant milestone as the Council brings together into one summit three previously 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 Arizona 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.

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"Arizona has become one of the nation's most dynamic centers for aerospace and defense innovation," said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Council and SciTech Institute. "The Arizona Aerospace Summit reflects the strength of our statewide ecosystem and creates an opportunity for industry, government and academia to come together around the technologies, partnerships and workforce initiatives shaping the future of aerospace."

The summit will feature 58 speakers in three integrated program tracks—Flightline (Advanced Air Mobility & Aviation), Orbitline (Space & Space-Enabled Services) and Frontline (Defense, Dual-Use & Manufacturing) —presented in four concurrent sessions and two convergence panels. Sessions throughout the day will explore topics including advanced manufacturing, autonomy, dual-use technologies, supply chain resiliency, workforce development, space commercialization, defense innovation and emerging aerospace technologies.

Featured speakers, moderators and participants will include:

• Jim Bridenstine, CEO, Quantum Space; former NASA administrator and U.S. representative
• Robin Rand, president and CEO, Kyl Institute for National Security, The University of Arizona; retired general and commander of Air Force Global Strike Command
• Laurie Leshin, professor, Space Futures, Arizona State University
• Kevin Suits, vice president of offering management & product innovation, Honeywell
• Drew Trojanowski, CEO, Southwest Mission Acceleration Center (SWMAC)
• David Taylor, president, Taylor Integrated Services; retired U.S. Army colonel
• Timothy Gallaudet, CEO of Ocean STL Consulting; former acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and retired U.S. Navy rear admiral
• Mike Canada, Applied Aviation Sciences Department chair, UAS program coordinator, faculty senate vice speaker and associate professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

The event also will feature Col. Charles Seaberry, recently appointed commander of the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, as part of the summit's defense and national security programming.

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The summit will include networking opportunities, industry exhibits and discussions designed to strengthen collaboration between established aerospace leaders, emerging companies, investors and strategic partners.

Registration is now open. For additional information and to register, visit https://www.aztechcouncil.org/event/az-aerospace-summit-2026/.