AIAA Statement on FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act Written 20 December 2019
CONTACT: Michele McDonald
703.264.7542
michelem@aiaa.org
AIAA Executive Director Applauds the Renewed Focus on National Security Space
December 20, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds the passage of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Among other things, the $738 billion policy bill establishes a U.S. Space Force as an independent military branch—the first new military service in seven decades—to be located inside the Department of the Air Force.
AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement after the president signed the authorization bill into law:
“Congress once again worked on a bipartisan basis to address the needs of our warfighters and our national defense industrial base. Both Congress and the administration have made it a priority to focus on national security space and modernize our defenses and maintain our preeminence over our adversaries. We also welcome the creation of a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, which will undoubtedly help provide for a more efficient and effective defense acquisition process.
The Institute, through our AIAA DEFENSE Forum and new ASCEND event, as well as technical resources, remains committed to working with the existing military leadership and welcomes the new branch’s leadership to ensure that space remains conflict free and open to all.”
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 85 countries, and 95 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, or follow us on Twitter @AIAA.
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American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
12700 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 200, Reston, VA 20191-5807
Phone: 703.264.7558 Fax: 703.264.7551 www.aiaa.org