Contact: Shalishah Franklin press@obap.org 213-949-3204 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OBAP Galvanizes Commitment to the Future of Aviation with Notable Speakers, 55 Companies and 1,400 Diverse Aerospace

Professionals in Orlando, August 9 – 11th.

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) will host its 41st Annual Convention and sold-out Career Exposition at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.

Chicago, IL (July 27, 2017) – More than fifteen hundred aviation and aerospace professionals will gather August 9 – 11, 2017 for the 41st Annual Convention and Career Exposition at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The convention, themed Conquering Aerospace: Opportunities for the Future and presented annually by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), will feature notable speakers including Martin Gomez, Director of Aeronautical Platforms, Facebook, Victoria Wassmer, Assistant Administrator for Finance and Management, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Richard Hanson, president and CEO, Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and Dr. Christine Darden, retired aeronautical engineer, NASA, throughout its three-day program. “We recognize the continued need for diverse professionals within the aviation industry as well as emerging opportunities within unmanned aerial systems and have crafted an exciting 41st Annual Convention and Career Exposition to stimulate conversations and further connect professionals,” said Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison, board chairwoman and Flight Stands (AFS) Leadership Development Team – Leadership Coach (ACC) and Change Management Advisor (CMA), FAA. The convention will commence on Wednesday, August 9th with the Aerospace Professional Development and Hiring Symposium, one of six professional development events, facilitated by OBAP’s Aerospace Professional Development team and sponsored by American Airlines, being held throughout the convention. Participating companies will provide attendees with an industry outlook, airline hiring and selection processes and career guidance. Following the symposium, the sold-out Career Exposition will open and provide more than 1,200 registered aviation professionals opportunities to meet recruiters from 55 participating companies including American Airlines, Emirates Airline, FedEx Express, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems,

Inc., National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS, Virgin America and Walmart Aviation. The Founders’ and Pioneers’ Breakfast, sponsored by JetBlue on August 10th, will honor notable aerospace professionals as some of the firsts to accept the challenge with an induction into the OBAP Hall of Fame on display during the convention and presented by the U.S. Air Force. This year’s honorees include: • Dr. Aprille Joy Ericsson, the first African-American civil servant female to

receive a Ph.D. in Engineering at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center • Lieutenant Colonel Luke J. Weathers, Jr., a Congressional Gold Medal recipient

and the first African-American air traffic specialist • Captain Theresa M. Claiborne, the first African-American female pilot in the

United States Air Force • Daniel E. Coons, Ph.D., founder of the Airways Science Program at Delaware

State University, a historically black college • Captain Aaron J. Gould, a B747-400 pilot who flew the first revenue flight for

UPS. • Edward Joseph Dwight, Jr., America’s first African-American astronaut

candidate • Lieutenant Colonel Edgar V. Lewis, one of the first African-American B52 pilots • Captain Lawrence Anthony Parker, Jr., the first African-American pilot hired by

Altair Airlines • Captain Robert Brown, one of the first African-American UPS pilots

A free Youth Day, open to students within the Orlando area, between the ages 12 – 18, will include workshops presented by the NASA Community Engagement team, the U.S. Air Force and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). The Tuskegee Airmen Rise Above – Red Tail Traveling Exhibit will be on-site during all three days of the convention. Participants in Youth Day will experience an extended feature presentation of the Tuskegee Airmen’s inspiring story within a 160-degree panoramic theater. The Youth Luncheon, sponsored by FedEx Express, will stimulate conversations about technology’s role in the future of the industry and invite youth to interact and participate alongside aviation professionals. The Collegiate Series will include ten professional development workshops over the three-day event to provide more than 60 students with the tools, mentoring, and training needed to successfully transition from college to career. The Corporate Luncheon and Strategic Industry Symposium, being held August 11th and sponsored by UPS, will offer a discussion around unmanned aerial systems including current and future opportunities, risks and regulations. Industry experts for the highly anticipated symposium include:

• Martin Gomez, Director of Aeronautical Platforms, leading all UAV development at Facebook

• Victoria Wassmer, Assistant Administrator for Finance and Management at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), directing the agency’s $16.9 billion budget

• Joe Ruiz, Director of the UPS Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Program, coordinating The UPS Foundation’s $15 million annual investment in the program

• Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics

• Richard D. Hanson, president and CEO of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the world's largest model aviation association

“As a member of OBAP for nearly four decades, a recently retired captain and chair of this year’s convention, I’ve been granted an incredible opportunity to lead in the creation of an inclusive convention that builds on the organization’s legacy of support for a spectrum of aerospace professionals,” said Capt. Lawrence Parker, Jr., OBAP convention chair and retired pilot, UPS. The convention will conclude with the Annual Awards Gala, presented by Diamond sponsor United Airlines. Awards will be presented to esteemed organization members and industry professionals including Dr. Christine Darden, one of the researchers featured in the book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race. Recipients of thirty-nine OBAP scholarships, valued at $257,500, from notable partners including American Airlines, FedEx Express, and United Airlines will be announced, newly promoted captains and retiring aviation professionals will also be recognized during the black-tie affair. Special guests including Krystal Brumfield, Esq., president and CEO of the Airport Minority Advisory Council, Washington DC, and Ethan Martin, founder and CEO of the Aviation Community Foundation, Denver, Colo., will also be in attendance. Additional sponsors of the 41st Annual Convention and Career Exposition include Wings Financial Credit Union, Walmart Aviation and Southwest Airlines. The full agenda can be found here: http://www.obap.org/conferenceschedule For promotional photos, press passes and interviews, contact Shalishah Franklin by email at press@obap.org. Join the conversation using and searching the hashtag #OBAPCon2017.

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About The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Founded in 1976, OBAP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of minorities in all aviation and aerospace careers. The robust, and diverse, organization is on a mission to inspire excellence, Support, Transform, Educate and Mentor members and youth with opportunities in the aerospace industry from cradle to career. For more information visit www.obap.org.