{"id":34690,"date":"2026-04-04T13:27:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/?p=34690"},"modified":"2026-04-04T13:39:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:39:37","slug":"innovation-soars-at-state-capitol-as-leaders-celebrate-oklahomas-44-billion-aerospace-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/state-news\/oklahoma\/innovation-soars-at-state-capitol-as-leaders-celebrate-oklahomas-44-billion-aerospace-economy\/%20","title":{"rendered":"Innovation Soars at State Capitol as Leaders Celebrate Oklahoma\u2019s $44 Billion Aerospace Economy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo – The crowd of aerospace industry stakeholders, military members, educators and students filled the second-floor rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol for the 2026 AERO Oklahoma Day. The event brought together more than 1,000 attendees to advocate for the state’s $44 billion aerospace and defense industry.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second floor rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol was transformed into a hub of high-tech innovation today as more than 1,000 industry leaders, educators, students, and military personnel gathered for Oklahoma\u2019s annual AERO Oklahoma Day. The event, hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics<\/a> (ODAA) with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. as the presenting sponsor, successfully showcased the strength of the state\u2019s $44 billion aerospace sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AERO Oklahoma Day serves as the focal point for Oklahoma\u2019s Annual Aerospace Week in partnership with Oklahoma City Innovation District to feature more than 60 exhibitors, including Boeing, American Airlines, and Northrop Grumman, among many others. From interactive flight simulators to advanced drone displays, the event illustrates why aerospace remains Oklahoma\u2019s second-largest economic engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Industry Rally: A Unified Voice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day\u2019s centerpiece was the Industry Rally that brought together state leaders and private-sector innovators. Gov. Kevin Stitt delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the state’s commitment to remaining a global leader in aviation and defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the fastest-growing sector in our state\u2019s economy, aerospace puts Oklahoma at the forefront of innovation in aviation, defense, and autonomous systems,\u201d said Stitt. \u201cWe are committed to strengthening this dynamic industry, ensuring it continues to thrive and create top-tier jobs for Oklahomans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ODAA Executive Director Grayson Ardies emphasized that the event\u2019s success stems from a unified approach across all sectors. \u201cToday was about speaking with a unified voice,\u201d Ardies said. \u201cBy bringing together industry, military, and education partners, we\u2019ve shown our elected officials the massive impact this industry has on every corner of our state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengthening Strategic Partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AERO Oklahoma Day also provides a critical venue for direct engagement between the aerospace workforce and state legislators. Sen. Kelly Hines (R-Oklahoma City), Chair of the Legislature\u2019s Aerospace Caucus, noted that these conversations help guide policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAerospace Day gives policymakers the chance to listen and learn from industry leaders, service members and so many others who have insight into how we continue to grow the state\u2019s second-largest industry,\u201d said Hines. \u201cThose conversations help guide our work in the Legislature and within the Aerospace Caucus as we look for innovative ways to keep Oklahoma competitive in aviation, aerospace and national defense while adding jobs and investment across this burgeoning sector. This industry is already soaring, but we\u2019re committed to taking it to new heights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Nicole Miller (R-Edmond), Vice Chair of the Aerospace Caucus, highlighted the vital presence of Oklahoma\u2019s military installations. \u201cOur military personnel are the backbone of Oklahoma\u2019s aerospace success, and their strong collaboration with private industry sets our state apart,\u201d said Miller. \u201cThese partnerships not only strengthen national security but also position Oklahoma to continue growing and competing in the aerospace sector.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the private sector, AGILE Space Industries CEO Chris Pearson noted that the day\u2019s energy signals a new era for the state. \u201cAERO Oklahoma Day is a powerful demonstration of the synergy that makes this state an aerospace powerhouse,\u201d Pearson said. \u201cThe technologies spotlighted today\u2014from propulsion to autonomous systems\u2014are the foundation for a new era of rapid, reliable access to space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspiring the Next Generation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine joined the day to highlight the importance of building Oklahoma’s future workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe students we met today at the Oklahoma State Capitol are the very individuals who will build the technologies and lead the missions that define the next era of exploration and national defense,\u201d said Bridenstine. \u201cBy investing in their STEM education now, we are ensuring that Oklahoma’s next generation is not just watching history. They are the ones making it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That sentiment was echoed in the House Chamber, where Oklahoma Air National Guard pilots and industry professionals were on hand to mentor hundreds of high school students. \u201cSeeing students engage with these leaders reinforces that our future talent is ready,\u201d said Paula Kedy, ODAA statewide aerospace STEM education manager. “We’re bridging the gap between the classroom and the flight line to ensure Oklahoma\u2019s students have the foundation to fuel aerospace in our state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Record-Breaking Year for Investment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the day concluded, organizers noted that AERO Oklahoma\u2019s record attendance reinforces Oklahoma\u2019s status as a top-tier destination for aerospace investment and talent. This momentum is backed by reports highlighting that Oklahoma\u2019s aerospace and defense industry has invested a staggering $450 million in new private capital funding over the past year. This represents a 300% increase compared to the previous year, driven by 37 new or expanding businesses that are projected to create 1,325 new high-paying jobs for Oklahomans. From traditional aviation to cutting-edge autonomous systems, the data confirms that Oklahoma is not just participating in the global aerospace market\u2014it is leading it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo – The crowd of aerospace industry stakeholders, military members, educators and students filled the second-floor rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol for the 2026 AERO Oklahoma Day. The event brought together more than 1,000 attendees to advocate for the state’s $44 billion aerospace and defense industry.\u00a0 The second floor rotunda of the Oklahoma State […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":34691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[144,98,56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aerospace-education","category-aviation-education","category-oklahoma"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026-Aerospace-at-Cap.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34690"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34696,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34690\/revisions\/34696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}