Aerium

06/05/2026

Innovation moves fastest when workforce development, infrastructure, and collaboration move together.

At the 2026 Aerium Innovation Summit, Glenn Ponas, Executive Director of Aerium, highlighted the importance of aligning Pennsylvania’s aviation and aerospace workforce with the evolving needs of the industry.

As aviation technology continues to advance, Pennsylvania has the partnerships, infrastructure, and momentum needed to prepare the next generation and keep pace with the innovations shaping the future.

Thank you to Glenn and all of our Summit speakers for helping lead these important conversations.

06/04/2026

Faces of the Aerium Innovation Summit!

From packed sessions to hands-on conversations, Day One showed exactly why collaboration matters. We are grateful for everyone who came ready to learn, connect, and help build the future of aviation in Pennsylvania!

From our speakers and panelists to our sponsors, exhibitors, partners, volunteers, airport staff, educators, industry leaders, students, and attendees — thank you for helping bring this event to life.

Your support, time, expertise, and energy helped create a meaningful day of conversations around aviation, innovation, workforce development, emerging technology, and the future of Pennsylvania’s aerospace ecosystem.

06/04/2026

Helping educators bring drone technology into the classroom!

Aerium is proud to support the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Workshop for Secondary Educators, a free, in-person opportunity designed to help K–12 teachers and administrators develop drone-focused curriculum for their schools.

Hosted by Aerium and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, this workshop gives educators the tools, guidance, and hands-on knowledge needed to integrate UAS technology into secondary education and expand real-world STEM learning opportunities for students.

Participants will learn from expert-led instruction, explore curriculum development, and gain resources to bring back to their classrooms.

Learn more: https://aerium.org/event/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-workshop-for-secondary-educators/

05/29/2026

A powerful moment from the 2026 Aerium Innovation Summit.

Aerium was honored to welcome U.S. Senator Dave McCormick to the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, where he spoke about Pennsylvania’s role in shaping the future of aviation, aerospace, defense, workforce development, and national security.

As Senator McCormick shared, “Pennsylvania should be the point of the spear for the next generation of innovation and change in America.” He also recognized the importance of the work happening here at Aerium, saying, “You are training the aviation workforce, building the talent pipeline, and helping to make Southwest Pennsylvania a center of excellence for America’s defense industrial base.”

Throughout his remarks, he emphasized Pennsylvania’s leadership, history, and opportunity: “Peace through strength is built right here in Pennsylvania,” and “Pennsylvania’s future is bright as long as we lean into it.”

His message was a reminder that the future of American innovation is not just being imagined — it is being built right here in Pennsylvania. As he said, “This is the beginning. We’re much closer to the beginning than the end of the opportunity for this region and this particular facility.”

“We have every right to dream heroic dreams. So let’s dream those heroic dreams together and let’s build them right here in Johnstown.”

Thank you, Senator McCormick, for joining us and for highlighting the builders, innovators, students, educators, and industry leaders helping move Pennsylvania forward.

05/29/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Aerium Innovation Summit.

Over the past two days, the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport became a gathering place for ideas, collaboration, and meaningful conversations about the future of aviation in Pennsylvania.

We are incredibly grateful to every attendee, speaker, sponsor, exhibitor, educator, student, industry leader, workforce partner, and public official who helped make this Summit so impactful. Your time, insight, and energy are what make Aerium’s mission possible.

This event was more than a conference. It was a reminder of what can happen when people come together to support innovation, build career pathways, and invest in the next generation of aviation and aerospace.

From all of us at Aerium, thank you for being part of it. We are excited to continue this work together.

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

Last night, Aerium proudly presented the inaugural APEX Award to Patrick McCann of Lockheed Martin during our joint celebration with Lockheed Martin honoring Pennsylvania’s aviation and aerospace ecosystem.

The Aerium APEX Award recognizes Pennsylvanians who have built extraordinary careers in aviation and aerospace while helping open doors for the next generation. As the very first recipient, Patrick McCann now helps define what this award will represent for years to come.

Pat’s impact across the Southern Alleghenies has been felt in classrooms, hangars, technical centers, and throughout the regional workforce. From supporting aviation maintenance students and local CTE programs to helping connect young Pennsylvanians with meaningful aerospace careers close to home, Pat has been a tireless advocate for this region and its future.

He has also been one of Aerium’s truest believers from the very beginning, showing up, opening doors, and lending his voice and credibility to help expand aviation and aerospace opportunities for students across the Commonwealth.

Pat, thank you for your years of quiet leadership, your belief in this place, and your commitment to building the workforce that will carry Pennsylvania aviation and aerospace forward. Last night, the credit caught up with you, and we could not be more honored to recognize you as the first-ever recipient of Aerium’s APEX Award.

05/28/2026

Yesterday, we kicked off the Aerium Innovation Summit 2026 at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport!

Day One brought together leaders from across aviation, aerospace, emerging technology, workforce development, education, government, and industry for meaningful conversations about the future of flight in Pennsylvania.

From infrastructure and operational scalability to real-world use cases, enterprise development, and the fleet of tomorrow, yesterday’s sessions highlighted the collaboration and momentum driving Aerium’s mission forward.

A special thank you to our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, attendees, and partners who helped make the first day such a success.

Today, we keep the momentum going with workforce-focused sessions, more time in the exhibit hall, PitchSummit 2026, and closing remarks from U.S. Senator Dave McCormick.

05/27/2026

Final Countdown: Senator McCormick Speaks Tomorrow at the 2026 Aerium Innovation Summit!

Aerium is honored to welcome U.S. Senator Dave McCormick as a special guest speaker on Thursday, May 28 at 2:45 PM during the 2026 Aerium Innovation Summit at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.

Senator McCormick’s participation brings an important statewide and national perspective to the Summit’s conversations around Pennsylvania’s aviation future, workforce development, emerging technologies, and aerospace industry growth. His remarks will help highlight the role Pennsylvania can play in advancing innovation, strengthening aviation career pathways, and supporting the next generation of industry leaders.

Free access will be available on May 28 from 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Attendees can receive a complimentary registration for PitchSummit and have the opportunity to hear Senator McCormick speak at 2:45 PM.

Register for complimentary access here: https://conta.cc/4fk0tKA

Join industry leaders, educators, public officials, workforce partners, students, and innovators as we come together to explore what’s next for aviation innovation in Pennsylvania.