Writer

Amy Wilder

Five of the largest aerospace companies with operations in Georgia have launched the Georgia Aerospace &amp; Defense Alliance (GADA), a statewide organization based at Mercer University in Macon. GADA, which includes Gulfstream Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, FlightSafety International, and RTX, wants to strengthen the state’s aerospace and defense industries through advocacy, workforce development, and collaboration.
The group’s initial priorities include ensuring Georgia remains an attractive location for aerospace investment and bolstering workforce pipelines through partnerships with universities and technical colleges.
Georgia ranks aerospace and defense as its second-largest industry and the state’s top export sector, with an annual economic impact of more than $57.5 billion and some 200,000 jobs tied to aerospace activities, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “The creation of the Georgia Aerospace &amp; Defense Alliance represents a strategic investment in the future of one of Georgia’s most essential industries,” said GADA chair Jay Neely, who also chairs the state’s economic development department.
The alliance will include the input of longtime policy advisor T. Rogers Wade, who joins as special advisor to the board. Ember Bishop Bentley, former chief of staff and v-p of external affairs at Middle Georgia State University, has been appointed GADA’s executive director. During her tenure at Middle Georgia State, Bentley helped secure more than $50 million in aviation education and infrastructure investments. “Georgia has long been a national force in aerospace and defense,” she said. “Through GADA, we will bring together industry, education, and government to ensure we remain competitive, innovative, and forward-looking in every aspect of this critical sector.”
A key policy area for the group will be the state’s research and development incentives. Under Georgia law,&nbsp;the research and development tax credit earned is a portion of the increase in R&amp;D spending, which can be used to offset up to 50% of net Georgia income tax liability. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to 10 years and, if excess, applied against payroll withholding.
Georgia’s aerospace footprint encompasses military aircraft production, business jets, eVTOL development, and advanced propulsion systems, with companies including Gulfstream in Savannah, Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Archer Aviation in Covington, and Hermeus in Doraville. With GADA’s launch, industry leaders said the state now has a single forum to coordinate policy and reinforce Georgia’s role as a hub for the aerospace industry.

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