10/02/2026
Aerospace leadership in a world that won’t stand still.
Another highly valuable day during Seattle Space Week 2026, this time at the Seattle European-American Air Forum – SEAAF, organized by the French-American Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Northwest Chapter
What I appreciated most was the diversity of the conversations: trade, supply chain, production, technology, commercial space, startups and the broader transformation of the aerospace industry.
Lisa Druesdow’s session on Global Trade Regulations was particularly relevant. In an increasingly complex international environment, understanding regulation is no longer simply a compliance exercise. Preparation, knowledge and anticipation are essential to protecting the business and preventing disruption once the supply chain is in motion.
Supply chain was also at the center of the discussion with Jeff Carpenter, VP Aircraft Materials & Structures at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, addressing stability, challenges and opportunities across the aerospace ecosystem.
Another excellent discussion focused on: “Aerospace Production Challenges: Delivering Quality, Rate, and Cost in an Uncertain Environment.”
The perspectives shared by Shawna J Livingston, MBA of Raisbeck Engineering, Frederic Denise of Derichebourg Aeronautics Services, Eduardo Torres of MTorres, and Mark Borus, PMP of IDD Aerospace Safran Electronics & Defense provided a very practical view of what manufacturers are facing as they balance quality, production capacity, cost and uncertainty.
I also had the opportunity to attend part of the SEAAF Startup Competition, where several companies presented the technologies and businesses they are building for the next generation of aerospace and space.
AIVA Perspective
My biggest takeaway goes beyond resilience. For leaders, adaptability is becoming a core business capability. Markets change. Regulations change. Technologies evolve. Customer expectations move. Skills become scarce, and sometimes a technology or product that looks highly relevant today can become obsolete far faster than expected.
Companies therefore need more than a strong strategy. They need the knowledge to understand what is changing, the ability to anticipate what comes next, the people and skills to respond, the technology to support that response, and an operating model capable of adapting without losing control of quality, cost or ex*****on.
This is why I value being present at forums like SEAAF: listening directly to the people building, manufacturing and leading this industry gives a much clearer understanding of today’s challenges, and a better perspective on what businesses need to prepare for tomorrow.
A special thank you to Sofia-Cristina ViĹźan and the FACC-PNW Aerospace Committee team for bringing together such a strong community and creating a very valuable day.