PARIS, FRANCE AND WALDWICK, NJ/June 17, 2019 — One month before the 50th anniversary of man’s first steps on the Moon, the United States of America today invoked the spirit of the Apollo space program to launch a week-long mission for international business partnerships at the 2019 Paris Air Show.
Led by astronauts Col. Walt Cunningham, USMCR, Ret. (Apollo 7); Col. Al Worden, USAF, Ret. (Apollo 15) and Brig. Gen. Charlie Duke, USAF, Ret. (Apollo 16), a delegation that included U.S. Ambassador to France Jamie McCourt, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, Acting U.S. Air Force Secretary Matthew Donovan and Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Eric Fanning took the stage this morning to declare the U.S. “open for business” at Le Bourget.
An estimated 350 American manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and industry advocates covering every market sector are participating in this year’s show, 286 in the 4,000-plus square meter USA Partnership Pavilion in Hall 3. The Pavilion is America’s headquarters on-site, organized since 1995 by Kallman Worldwide, Inc. of Waldwick, NJ, in coordination with numerous government agencies, including the departments of Commerce, Defense, State and Transportation.
Pavilion exhibitors represent 35 U.S. states, including 64 first-time show exhibitors. Notably 20 state departments of economic development and commerce — Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, North Carolina, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin — are hosting their own state-branded pavilions featuring state-based co-exhibitors within the larger USA space.
As part of NASA’s campaign honoring Apollo’s golden anniversary, the Pavilion is presenting “Apollo 50: America’s Invitation to Partnership,” bringing together leaders from government, the military, industry and academia at Le Bourget for a week-long program promoting innovation, cooperation and investment in aerospace. The theme of the Apollo 50 Paris program is, “We’re all on a mission.” The message recalls the famously massive Apollo workforce — more than 400,000 from some 20,000 companies and universities — to connect all American stakeholders and the interests they represent at the 2019 Paris Air Show.
“Whether you’re pursuing discoveries on Earth or elsewhere in the universe, we all share Apollo’s values for engineering, risk-taking and discovery. We’re all on a mission to break through barriers,” said Tom Kallman, President and CEO of Kallman Worldwide. “Apollo 50 and the anniversary this summer of man’s first steps on the Moon provide a unique opportunity to reflect on the positive impact space programs have had on society, and re-emphasize the need for continued support of public and private initiatives dedicated to aerospace exploration and commerce.”
In addition to astronauts Cunningham, Duke and Worden, 17 industry “Mission Partners” are on board the Apollo 50 Paris program to connect past achievements to their current pursuit of new ideas and advancements: Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Circor Aerospace, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Deloitte, General Atomics, Greater Seattle Partners, Harris Corporation, HEICO, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Jobs Ohio, Lockheed Martin, Nordam, Space City Houston, Raytheon, Rolled Alloys, United Launch Alliance and Mission Contractor Kallman Creative Services.
“Now more than ever, success in international trade comes from partnership and teamwork,” said Kallman. “Amplified by the Apollo 50 Paris Mission, the USA Partnership Pavilion sharpens our focus on advancing America’s national security and economic interests by building stronger relationships with our international customers.”
