Press Kit

Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Alliance Brings Industry Together

The Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Alliance (OADA), a nonprofit formed in 2006 to support the growth of the aerospace industry, has grown to over 300 membership companies across the state, many of whom have operations nationally and internationally.

Mary Smith, Executive Director of the OADA, says, “Our organization is here to help companies connect to each other, to government, and to resources across the region. As a networking agent, we intend to help grow this industry in Oklahoma.”

The OADA board of directors is represented by 13 aerospace companies of all sizes including American Airlines, ARINC, Executive AirShare, FlightSafety, Precise Machining and others to help advise and define the roles that OADA takes in the industry.

The alphabet soup of aerospace organizations in our region can often leave a company feeling lost or uneasy about who to go to for help.  So, OADA works closely with all of them, including the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Oklahoma Aerospace Institute, Chambers of Commerce, among others to help clarify and direct members to the right channels to do business.

Working in the aerospace industry can be a very complex, especially when seeking new contracts with the government. To help guide companies to the right channels, OADA supports events like the annual spring Aerospace Day at the Capitol. This gives companies a voice in the legislation that shapes their business day to day.  Partnerships with Chambers, such as Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Midwest City, are also important in this process. Midwest City Chamber offers annual programs like the Tinker and the Primes business development event and the AfterCareers Fair to strengthen the sense of community and collaboration throughout the state.

OADA also offers an annual summer conference, the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Summit & Expo, which brings the entire industry together for four days to network, socialize, and find new business opportunities for any company interested in profiting from aerospace. It’s also a time to give industry a voice with new and potential workforce through a specialized day of Education and Training for industry mentors and educators across the state.

For more information about the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Alliance, memberships, and resources, have a look at www.okaero.com or call 918.527.0980. For interaction with aerospace leaders around the state, check out the Forum link or find OADA on Facebook, and Twitter.