Brad Tucker

Exciting news for Florida's Space Coast! A cutting-edge aerospace training center is set to launch, catering to the growing demand for skilled professionals in the region's thriving space sector. This initiative aims to equip individuals with the expertise needed for the high-tech jobs shaping the future of the aerospace industry. For more information, click here: https://bizj.us/1qnla3 #SpaceTecPartners #SteveKane #OrlandoBusinessJournal #Aerospace #Technology

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Key Takeaways from our webinar on Scaling the Drones Supply Chain! Blog and full webinar video here: https://lnkd.in/e2SxkrXP Thank you to an amazing panel of those leading the charge in scaling the drones supply chain! Brian Retherford, Aventra Defense Systems, Co-Founder, CFO/COO Kevin Landtroop, Bravo Ordnance, Chief Strategy Officer CSO Roger Pecina, Eve Vehicles Corporation, Chief Executive Officer Fatema Hamdani Krauss Aerospace, CEO & Co-Founder Alejandra Y Castillo, Former U.S. Asst. Secretary U.S. Dept of Commerce Here’s what stood out: 1) “Scale” is not just about volume. It's about creating strategic clarity. Scaling 500 units/month is very different from 10,000+ units/year at a predictable cost curve. Volume targets, mission context, and product complexity must be clearly defined before investing in production. 2) Speed of iteration is the new competitive advantage. The winning capability isn’t just the drone — it’s the ability to move from prototype to scaled production in 90–180 days. Rapid iteration beats static perfection. 3) Scaling is industrial strategy in action. This is not a linear production problem. It’s a systems challenge involving economics, supply architecture, acquisition reform, and disciplined requirements management. 4) The real bottleneck isn’t factory capacity. It’s demand clarity. Before asking “Can you build 10,000?” we need to ask “10,000 of what?” Requirements are evolving rapidly, and unstable demand signals make scaling speculative and risky. 5) Supply chain resilience must be designed from day one. Multi-sourcing, modularity, and interchangeable components are essential. Single-source dependencies create fragility that cannot be fixed later. 6) Trade-offs are inevitable — and critical to make. Processor choice, motors, compliance components — companies must consciously balance cost, performance, and availability. Not every feature justifies the supply risk. 7) Feature creep quietly kills affordability. Every added requirement (all-weather, autonomy upgrades, sensor fusion, etc.) adds cost and complexity. Discipline around core mission needs is critical. 8) The U.S. cost gap is real. But it can managed over time. Overseas ecosystems benefit from mature supplier networks and volume learning curves. Domestic capability is improving with the learning curve and with repetition, demand stability, and time. 9) Acquisition structure shapes scalability. Long, specification-heavy procurement cycles slow iteration. Operational units with rapid feedback loops enable faster scaling and earlier fielding. 10) Ecosystems and workforce matter as much as hardware. Scaling requires technicians, engineers, regional supply networks, and university collaboration, not just factories.

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 The Georgia Aquarium is partnering with a technology company to help visually-impaired visitors. The Georgia Aquarium is partnering with ReBokeh Vision Technologies, Inc. to bring the company’s free app to visitors. The app allows users to use customized filters and AI tools to improve visibility of animals, signs, and menus. The Georgia Aquarium is the first aquarium in the U.S. to offer this technology. 

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Hughes has acquired Anderson Connectivity, a leader in aerospace design, engineering, and manufacturing based in Melbourne, Florida.  This strategic acquisition positions us for accelerated growth in the global aviation, space, and defense markets, while also providing a physical presence on the Space Coast to serve as a hub for solution innovation and rapid prototyping.  https://lnkd.in/e75R_wUk #aviation #IFEC #innovation

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Great article from Eric Brothers at Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, highlighting why AI Adoption has stalled. It was great to share what I am seeing in the market, and what companies need today to win, specifically in manufacturing. https://lnkd.in/gGkCA7EB #ManufacturingAI #AI #AIOutcomes NewRocket

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🚀 Great news for U.S. manufacturing! JetZero, an innovative aerospace startup, just announced a $4.7 billion investment in Greensboro, NC to build its groundbreaking Z4 blended‑wing‑body aircraft. This factory will create ~14,500 jobs by 2036—the largest job commitment in North Carolina’s history—and relocate JetZero’s HQ to the region. 👀Trace Manning https://lnkd.in/gzCZw9_p

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