On Friday, February 27, 2026, the Southern Pacific Aero-Defense Alliance (SPADA) officially announced its formation as a new regional nonprofit aimed at unifying the aerospace and defense (A&D) industrial base across Southern California.
The alliance is designed to bridge coordination gaps between industry, government, academia, and community partners, with a core focus on workforce development, supply-chain resilience, and regional innovation.
Addressing Regional Industrial Resilience
SPADA arrives at a critical juncture for the Southern California A&D sector, which hosts a high concentration of primary defense contractors and specialized suppliers. The alliance seeks to provide the “connective tissue” necessary to maintain the region’s competitive edge in advanced manufacturing and national security priorities.
The organization is led by Pennie Burnham, who serves as CEO of SPADA while maintaining her role as Vice President of North America for Nycote Laboratories Corporation. Burnham, a veteran of the aerospace coatings industry, founded the alliance alongside regional leaders to address the evolving needs of the A&D workforce.
Leadership and Keynote Perspectives
SPADA will hold its public debut at an Inaugural Launch Event on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the College of the Canyons (COC) Performing Arts Center. The program will feature a high-profile keynote discussion with OJ Sanchez, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, and Congressman George Whitesides (CA-27).
Sanchez, who took the helm of Skunk Works in early 2025, has focused on “burning down the miracles”—transitioning classified advanced technologies into operational milestones. Meanwhile, Rep. Whitesides brings a unique blend of executive and legislative experience to the alliance, having served as NASA Chief of Staff and CEO of Virgin Galactic before his election to Congress.
“The future of aerospace and defense depends on collaboration across industry, education, and government,” said Burnham. “SPADA provides that connective tissue, and this launch event signals a shared commitment to building a stronger, more resilient A&D workforce and supply chain.”
Timeline for Inaugural Event
The March 11 launch event is hosted in collaboration with the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation and College of the Canyons. The program is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. PT and will gather senior defense executives and policymakers to discuss industrial readiness and regional defense priorities. Registration for the event is currently open, with special access provided for students in relevant engineering and technical programs.
