News Release: Global Aerospace Summit 2026 Lineup Announced

 Global Aerospace Summit 2026 Lineup Announced

Two-day program returns to the St. Louis region August 19 -20 to highlight aerospace manufacturing innovation and global industry collaboration

 

[Edwardsville, IL / August 10, 2026] – The Global Aerospace Summit will return to the St. Louis region August 19–20, 2026, with a lineup of speakers and panels that builds on the success of the inaugural conference last year. The event brings together aerospace manufacturers, suppliers, government leaders, educators and workforce partners for a two-day program focused on advancing innovation and strengthening the industry’s future. Hosted by the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Madison County, St. Clair County and the St. Louis Regional Freightway, the 2026 Summit will take place at the Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon, Illinois, with additional programming hosted throughout the Metro East.

An estimated 200 attendees from across the United States, Canada and as far away as Korea are registered for this year’s summit, making it a truly global event and strengthening its position as a premier platform for industry collaboration. The 2026 program will feature keynote presentations, industry panels, networking opportunities, a career fair and a targeted supplier matchmaking session designed to connect manufacturers with new business opportunities.

“This Summit was created to elevate the St. Louis region’s position as a hub for aerospace manufacturing and innovation, and the response to our inaugural event confirmed both the strength of our industry and the demand for meaningful collaboration,” said Kyle Anderson, Executive Director & CEO of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois. “As we get ready to welcome attendees for year two, we’re focused on delivering even greater value, bringing together leaders from across the aerospace ecosystem to address emerging trends, strengthen supply chains and create new pathways for growth.”

Things kick off on August 19 with opportunities for attendees to participate in a tour of the Center for Academic and Vocational Excellence (CAVE) in Belleville, Illinois, where students are gaining the skills needed to embark on a career in the aerospace sector. The morning also features a Career Fair at Regency O’Fallon in partnership with Scott Air Force Base Military & Family Readiness Center to highlight training pipelines and connect talent to high-demand aerospace careers.

 

The afternoon features a series of presentations and panel discussions between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., including in the following order:

 

• Opening Keynote by Brigadier General David Fazenbaker, Director of Strategy, Plans, Requirements and Programs for Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base 
• Keynote by Troy Rutherford, Vice President of The Boeing Company, who will highlight Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray and the Next Era of Aerospace, providing an inside look at advanced manufacturing, autonomy and defense innovation in the greater St. Louis region
• A panel discussion with leadership from Kalitta Air titled Connecting Markets and Missions: Kalitta Air’s Global Reach

• REVving Up Aerospace: Incentives Driving UAV Manufacturing in Illinois, a presentation by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
• A presentation by representatives from the Illinois Department of Transportation on Illinois' Aviation Economic Impact and Future Advanced Air Mobility
• The Future of Flight Runs on SAF - a panel discussion with Jim Hedges, CEO, CoverCress, and Cindy Tomei, President, Sustainable Aviation Fuels Institute (SAFII)

 

Day two on the morning of August 20 will include a federal and state policy discussion featuring members of Congress and state leadership, as well as three additional panel discussions:

 

• Building and Sustaining the Fleet: OEM, MRO and Defense Perspectives, featuring leadership from Boeing, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and West Star Aviation
• From Compliance to Competitiveness: Navigating Today’s Defense Landscape, featuring representatives from the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and SSE, Inc., for a discussion on issues and trends in aerospace manufacturing and bidding, including Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and its impact on manufacturers supporting DOD contracts
• Growing an Aerospace Economy: Data, Collaboration and Regional Leadership, featuring leadership from the Illinois Economic Development Corporation, St. Louis Regional Freightway and Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois

 

Among the unparalleled networking opportunities brought back for year two of the summit is the chance to experience high-speed laps at World Wide Technology Raceway, the same track used by NASCAR and INDYCAR, reaching speeds of over 120 mph. The IMEC Supplier Matchmaking Program also returns. This targeted, one-on-one networking opportunity is designed exclusively for the manufacturing sector. Participating Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) submit real-time sourcing needs in advance, and IMEC curates personalized meeting schedules to connect them with qualified manufacturers and suppliers whose capabilities align. The deadline to sign up for this year’s matchmaking session is end of day Monday, August 10^th.

 

“Our region’s aerospace ecosystem is built on strong industry partnerships, strategic infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of its St. Louis Regional Freightway enterprise. “This conference will provide tremendous opportunities for those who want to be part of the growth and impact of this vibrant industry.”

 

To learn more about the 2026 Global Aerospace Summit, view the full agenda and register to attend, visit: https://leadershipcouncilswil.com/gas2026/.

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Julie Hauser | President

The Hauser Group, Inc.

12813 Flushing Meadows Drive, Suite 270, St. Louis, MO 63131

Office: 314-436-9090, Ext. 101     Cell: 314-629-3887

julie@hausergrouppr.com | www.hausergrouppr.com

Red Tail Cadets Class VI Graduation Held at Elite Aviation

By Carmelo Turdo

Five high school students from the Ferguson-Florissant School District were honored as Class VI of the Red Tail Cadet Program during a graduation ceremony held on Thursday evening, July 30, at Elite Aviation. The event marked the culmination of eight weeks of flight training and life skills coaching received as part of their overall Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. 

The Red Tail Cadet Program Class VI seated (L-R):

Zariah Rouse, Cameron Carter, Rocko Smith, Joseph Renaud and London Hawkins

The Red Tail Cadet Program is a cooperative effort by the Ferguson-Florissant School District, The Crossing Church, and Elite Aviation among other sponsors to use aviation as a pathway to a STEM career. The program is named for the Red Tails of the 332nd Fighter Group, the first all-black military pilot unit that formed during World War II and popularly known today as the Tuskegee Airmen. The same drive and talent that made the Tuskegee Airmen legendary in war and in peace can be applied by these students in pursuit of their own future goals while participating in the Red Tail Cadet Program.

The evening began with the arrival of the Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing's B-25J Mitchell, Show Me, generously provided as the backdrop to the ceremony. This World War II-era medium bomber, crewed by Matt Conrad and Charlie Bramstedt, is based at St. Charles County Regional Airport - Smartt Field and can be seen at ride events around the Midwest region. The B-25 was also the aircraft type used by the 477th Bombardment Group, where the first class of Tuskegee Airmen crews trained at Selfridge Field, MI in late 1944. The war ended before they could be deployed to the European or Pacific Theaters, but the domestic battle for equality continued for years to come.  

The ceremony began with a series of messages from representatives of the sponsoring organizations who worked tirelessly throughout the year to make the Red Tail Cadet Program possible. Included here are The Crossing Church Pastor Anthony Meyers, Elite Aviation Owner John Tipton and The Crossing Church member and Mayor of Lake St. Louis, Brian McKinney. 

Following the sponsor presentations, the Red Tail Cadets reflected on the program's Pillars of Leadership: Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Legacy and Commitment. Each Red Tail Cadet from Class VI was then awarded a framed graduation certificate along with a Proclamation from St. Louis County, represented here by Spirit of St. Louis Airport Director John Bales, naming July 30, 2025, for each of the Cadets by name.

Two special awards, wood P-51 Mustang models, were given to Spirit of St. Louis Airport Director, John Bales, and Dr. Matthew Miriani, Aviation Medical Examiner, for their support of the Red Tail Cadets.

The Cadets, along with their families and friends, gathered around the aircraft for more photos as the sun set. The Aero Experience thanks Elite Aviation, The Crossing Church and all of the sponsors for supporting the Red Tail Cadet Program again this year!

Red Tail Cadets Class VI Flies Cross-Country from St. Louis to Mount Vernon, IL

By Carmelo Turdo

Red Tail Cadets Class VI recently reached a new milestone: cross-country flight training. The five Cadets and Elite Aviation CFIs, along with The Aero Experience, Elite Aviation owner John Tipton and Chief Pilot Joshua Kelley, departed Spirit of St. Louis Airport on July 21 for the flight to Mount Vernon Outland Airport, IL and lunch at Bonnie Cafe before returning to St. Louis. The Red Tail Cadets are now winding up the flight training portion of the program, though they will continue to participate as Cadet Ambassadors for years to come.

The Red Tail Cadet Program Class VI seated L-R: Zariah Rouse, Cameron Carter, Rocko Smith, Joseph Renaud and London Hawkins

The Red Tail Cadet Program is a cooperative effort by the Ferguson-Florissant School District, The Crossing Church, and Elite Aviation among other sponsors to use aviation as a pathway to a STEM career. The program is named for the Red Tails of the 332nd Fighter Group, the first all-black military pilot unit that formed during World War II and popularly known today as the Tuskegee Airmen. The same drive and talent that made the Tuskegee Airmen legendary in war and in peace can be applied by these students in pursuit of their own future goals while participating in the Red Tail Cadet Program.

The Cadets, CFIs and Elite Aviation staff assembled for the pre-flight briefing and flight planning session at 8:00 A.M. on flight day. Flight planning complete, the Cadets conducted their preflight inspections of the Elite Cessna 172S fleet aircraft before the 9:30 A.M. start time. Here we include some views of the preflight activities, the takeoff from Spirit of St. Louis Airport and the arrival at Mount Vernon. The Cadets honed their skills using pilotage and dead reckoning navigation during the flight while maintaining a safe distance from the other aircraft in their flight of five. 

Lunch at Bonnie Cafe is always enjoyable, and it was great to visit one of our favorite Midwest airports. Thanks to SRT Flightline FBO for their hospitality and topping off the fuel tanks for the return flight. After filling up from the great buffet, the Cadets and their instructors posed for the traditional crew photos before flying back to Spirit of St. Louis Airport. 

The Aero Experience thanks the Red Tail Cadets, Elite Aviation and everyone who made this cross-country adventure possible. Check back soon for the Red Tail Cadet Class VI graduation ceremony coming later this week.