Aerium Returns as a Featured Partner at the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania Aerospace & Aviation Day
Lieutenant Governor, NASA Astronaut, Drone Industry Pioneer, and PA Students Gather to Shape the Commonwealth’s Aerospace Future; Aerium to Lead and Participate in Key Aerospace Education Activities Throughout the Day
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Matt Crocco
Communications Director, Aerium
Phone: 412.592.7061
Email: Matt@aerium.org
May 1, 2026
HARRISBURG, PA — Aerium, Pennsylvania’s nonprofit hub for aviation, aerospace, and drone workforce development, is proud to once again participate in the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania Aerospace & Aviation Day on Monday, May 4, 2026. Organized by the Office of Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, and the Aerospace States Association – Pennsylvania Chapter, the event brings together students, industry, education, and government leaders to promote aerospace innovation, workforce development, and economic growth across the Commonwealth. Aerium returns for its third consecutive year as a major participant, leading and contributing to several aerospace education activities throughout the day.
The event spans two venues in the Capitol Complex - the Keystone Building (400 North St.) and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (326 Market Street) - and unfolds in three connected segments: a student careers panel, a formal Pennsylvania Aerospace Caucus hearing, and a student lunch and experiential activity session. A full schedule appears below.
Event Schedule
9:00 – 9:30 AM — Arrival & Exhibits
Keystone Building | 400 North St., Harrisburg, PA
Students, educators, and guests arrive and explore exhibits showcasing Pennsylvania’s aviation, aerospace, and drone sectors. Exhibitors represent the full breadth of the ecosystem — from commercial drone operators to university research programs.
9:30 – 10:45 AM — Careers in Aviation: Student Panel
Keystone Building, PUC Hearing Room #1 | Moderated by Aerium
The centerpiece student session features six speakers representing diverse entry points into aviation and aerospace careers. Moderated by Aerium Executive Director Glenn Ponas, speakers include:
- Maj. Jerome Weiss, Director of Aerospace Education, PA Wing Civil Air Patrol — Explore, Learn & Lead with CAP
- Brandon Weiss, Recruiting Specialist, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics — AMT & Avionics Careers at PIA
- Dr. James A. Pawelczyk, Ph.D., NASA Payload Specialist & Associate Professor, Penn State University — Aerospace Science Can Take You to the Stars
- Denver Hopkins, CEO & Co-Founder, Horizon Aerobotics — Drone Careers Are Coming to PA Now
- Nathaniel Denault, Founder/Owner/Pilot, Aerial Applications — Build Your Own Aviation Business
- Lt. Gov. Austin Davis — PA’s Aerospace Future — And Yours
Each presentation will be followed by student Q&A. Topics span the full scope of aerospace careers: aircraft maintenance, drone operations, agricultural technology, space science, entrepreneurship, and public policy.
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM — PA Aerospace Caucus Hearing
North Office Building - Hearing Room #1 | Led by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick and Rep. Joe Webster
The formal Pennsylvania Aerospace Caucus Hearing convenes to assess the state’s aerospace and aviation ecosystem, identify gaps and opportunities in industry, research, and workforce development, and align on legislative priorities. Aerium will deliver prepared testimony focused on advanced air mobility, drone workforce infrastructure, and the organization’s statewide hub-and-spoke model spanning 14 Pennsylvania regions.
The Keystone Space Collaborative, a leading voice for Pennsylvania’s emerging space ecosystem and a key partner in mobilizing the industry’s presence before legislators and statewide audiences, will also present testimony focused on positioning Pennsylvania as a national space manufacturing and robotics leader and broadening the Commonwealth’s role in NASA and Department of Defense programs of record.
Speakers & Presenters:
- Lt. Governor Austin Davis — remarks on economic development, workforce, and the Commonwealth's aerospace priorities
- Keystone Space Collaborative — ecosystem update on PA's emerging space sector, space manufacturing and robotics positioning
- Aerium (Glenn Ponas) — testimony on advanced air mobility, drone workforce infrastructure, and the hub-and-spoke regional model
- Horizon Aerobotics (Denver Hopkins) — why his company chose Pennsylvania for its national Remote Operations Center and what the Commonwealth must do to remain competitive.
- Pitt Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine — announcing the Institute's establishment; focus on translational space science and microgravity research for human health
12:00 – 2:00 PM — Student Lunch & Activities at HUST
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology| 326 Market Street, Harrisburg (adjacent to Strawberry Square)
While the Caucus Hearing is in session, participating students will walk from the Keystone Building to HUST, where they will enjoy interactive, station-based experiences provided by the University staff. These include drone demonstrations on the 11th floor, advanced manufacturing labs, and immersive VR technology. They’ll be free to rotate among machining, 3D printing, and drone-focused activities at their own pace, getting a hands-on look at cutting-edge STEM careers.
Why It Matters
Pennsylvania Aerospace & Aviation Day is not a single event — it is a demonstration of a statewide strategy. Organized by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Office of Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, the Keystone Space Collaborative, and the Aerospace States Association – Pennsylvania Chapter, the event unites industry, education, and government leaders around a shared mission: making Pennsylvania a top-tier aerospace state. Aerium is once again a featured partner, taking a major role in the aerospace education programming that runs throughout the day — leading the student careers panel, contributing expertise across sessions, and connecting the next generation of Pennsylvania workers directly to the industry professionals and job opportunities in the room.
Among the news highlighted at this year’s event:
- Horizon Aerobotics — the Houston-based autonomous drone intelligence company — has announced the establishment of its national Remote Operations Center at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, projecting approximately 247 new high-skilled jobs in Cambria County.
- Aerium’s Agriculture and Forestry Drone Operator CTE certification — the first of its kind in Pennsylvania — launches in January 2027.
- Drone814, Pennsylvania’s first FAA-authorized BVLOS medical drone delivery platform, continues to expand its operational model from the Johnstown airport.
- Aerium’s 63,000 sq. ft. Innovation Center on the Keystone Opportunity Zone at KJST is advancing, with plans for R&D, advanced manufacturing, workforce development facilities, and a new MRO operation.
ABOUT AERIUM:
Aerium is a national leader dedicated to accelerating aviation innovation and expanding the workforce needed to sustain it. Through collaborative partnerships that leverage the strength of the entire aviation ecosystem—industry, education, government, and community organizations—Aerium drives forward solutions that make flight safer, smarter, and more accessible. At the same time, Aerium strengthens talent pipelines by preparing students, educators, and workers for high-demand careers across aerospace and advanced technology fields. By uniting innovation with workforce development, Aerium ensures both businesses and communities are ready for the opportunities of a rapidly evolving aviation economy. For more information, contact matt@aerium.org.
