Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance

What Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance does

Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance is a non-profit industry trade association founded in 2018 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, focused on advancing the aerospace and defense (A&D) sector in Arkansas and the broader South-Central region. The alliance operates a member-driven model serving a roster of 200+ stakeholders that includes major primes (Dassault Falcon Jet, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, L3 Harris), tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers, the Arkansas National Guard (including Ebbing ANGB), the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), and a network of 13 colleges and universities.

The alliance's core "products" are programmatic rather than physical: the recurring Mid-America Aerospace + Defense Summit serves as its flagship convening event (with documented editions in 2019, 2023, and a 2026 edition announced), while structured initiatives such as the Arkansas Military Hiring Initiative connect transitioning service members and guard personnel to A&D employers. Education and workforce programs are co-developed with the higher-education partner network, aligning credentialing and curriculum to industry demand.

The business model is a recurring membership-and-event sponsorship model. Revenue derives from tiered annual membership dues paid by corporate members, summit sponsorship and exhibit fees, and ancillary program support, supplemented by in-kind and grant-like partnerships with state agencies. GTM is relationship-led and ecosystem-anchored, with the executive director (Chad Causey) acting as the central convener across primes, government, military, and academia. The alliance is not a technology vendor; there are no disclosed AI, software, or platform revenue streams in the input.

Name

Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance

Legal name

Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance

Website

https://arkansasaerospace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance is a Little Rock-based non-profit trade association founded in 2018 that convenes 200+ aerospace and defense primes, suppliers, military, and higher-education partners to advocate for the sector and run the annual Mid-America Aerospace + Defense Summit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Alliance generates revenue through membership dues from aerospace, aviation, and defense companies, government agencies, and educational institutions. Multiple membership tiers are available depending on company size and needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance is a non-profit trade association that recruits and serves a 200+ member network of aerospace, aviation, and defense companies, government agencies, and educational institutions in Arkansas. It delivers value through tiered membership dues in exchange for B2B networking, marketing visibility, event discounts, public policy advocacy at the state and federal level, and workforce development partnerships. Its flagship tangible offerings are the annual Mid-America Aerospace + Defense Summit, the Arkansas Military Hiring Initiative, the Interactive Membership Directory, and workforce training programs.

Product overview

The Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance is an industry coalition (not a technology product company) that serves as a trade association connecting public and private aerospace companies, government agencies, and educational institutions. Its offerings include the annual Mid-America Aerospace + Defense Summit (regional trade show), Interactive Membership Directory (networking tool), Arkansas Military Hiring Initiative (workforce recruitment program), workforce development partnerships with education institutions, and the Bob East Award for industry recognition. The Alliance focuses on advocacy, business referrals, networking, and workforce training rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arkansas Military Hiring Initiative (AMHI) A hiring initiative that connects Arkansas National Guard members and their families with aerospace and defense employers, offering job interviews and access to well-compensated positions with comprehensive benefits.
• Mid-America Aerospace + Defense Summit Annual regional trade summit connecting aerospace and defense companies, government leaders, and education champions across the Mid-America region, providing B2B networking, supplier introductions, and industry tradeshow exhibitions.
• Interactive Membership Directory Online searchable directory of Alliance member companies listing contact information, products/services, and industry categories for networking and business referrals.
• Workforce Development Programs Partnership with educational institutions to develop and train qualified workforce for aerospace, aviation, and defense industries, including certification programs, aviation maintenance training, and pilot training.
• Bob East Award Annual award recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth of aerospace and defense in Arkansas. Named for Bob East, former member of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission instrumental in establishing the Alliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250 attendees from Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma at the 2019 Mid-America Aerospace and Defense Summit
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and core.

• Arkansas World Trade CentermoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Alliance partners with the Arkansas World Trade Center to help Arkansas aerospace companies access international markets and make export connections. The ARWTC has helped companies like TruTrak Flight Systems connect with the right people for certification and business partnerships.
• Arkansas National Guard (189th Airlift Wing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance collaborates with the Arkansas National Guard's 189th Airlift Wing on Industry Days to help member companies recruit skilled personnel from military personnel. The 189th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB hosts Alliance member companies for recruitment events.
• Ebbing Air National Guard Base (188th Wing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance organizes visits to Ebbing ANGB in Fort Smith for member companies to learn about the 188th Wing's F-35 training mission and MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft operations. The base visit scheduled for June 30, 2026 is an AADA member event.
• Arkansas Department of Career Education and Workforce DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance partners with the state's Career Education and Workforce Development board, whose CEO includes AADA's President as Vice Chair, to provide grants for workforce training including ISO/AS9100 training, adult education, and rehabilitation services for aerospace industry workers.
• Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AEDC works with the Alliance on economic development opportunities in aerospace and defense. AEDC President Mike Preston has presented at Alliance summits on the state's vision for growing the aerospace sector, including Governor Hutchinson's initiatives.
• Arkansas Governor's Military Affairs CommitteemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernor Asa Hutchinson created a statewide Military Affairs Committee to support and promote Arkansas' military installations and economic development. The Alliance collaborates with this committee on defense strategies and base retention efforts.
• Educational Institutions (13 colleges and universities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance has formal Education Partners including Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas State University, Henderson State University, Southern Arkansas University Tech, University of Arkansas, U of Arkansas Pulaski Tech, UALR, and others. These institutions provide aerospace workforce training aligned with Alliance member needs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greater Houston Partnership: Houston's regional chamber of commerce with a dedicated aerospace and aviation committee that performs similar B2B matchmaking, advocacy, and workforce development for Texas-based aerospace companies (including NASA's Johnson Space Center ecosystem). Comparable regional industry coalition model.
• Aerospace States Association: National coalition of state-level aerospace associations; AADA participates as a member state organization. Provides coordinating advocacy at the federal level for state aerospace industries, mirroring AADA's mission at a national scale.
• Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Alliance: State-level aerospace and defense trade association in a neighboring state; attended the same Mid-America Aerospace + Defense Summit as AADA and operates an identical model of industry advocacy, B2B networking, and workforce development for regional aerospace/defense companies.
• Space Florida: Florida's state-level aerospace economic development authority, performing aerospace industry advocacy, infrastructure investment, and workforce programs for Florida-based aerospace/defense companies. Closest functional analog to AADA at the state level.

Broad incumbents

• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): Leading national defense industry association representing thousands of suppliers and primes. Provides the broader federal advocacy and networking platform that complements AADA's regional Arkansas-specific advocacy for defense member companies.
• National Air Transportation Association (NATA): National trade association representing aviation service businesses including FBOs and MROs; cited in AADA's awards data. Operates federally across the U.S. aviation services segment, overlapping with AADA's MRO/FBO member base.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): National trade association for the business aviation industry; represents many of the FBO, MRO, and aviation-services companies that are part of AADA's membership base, but operates nationally rather than within Arkansas.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): The principal national trade association for the U.S. aerospace and defense industry; many AADA member primes (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon) are AIA members. Operates at a broader federal scale than AADA's state-level focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/araerospace
• Facebookfacebook.com/araerospace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance