Arlington, Va. – The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the leading voice for the American aerospace and defense industry, today announced that experienced STEM professional Jessica Pedersen has joined as Senior Director of the American Rocketry Challenge.
“For over two decades, the American Rocketry Challenge has inspired young minds towards STEM careers and empowered them to tackle new challenges,” said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. “With Jessica stepping in as our new Senior Director, we will explore new ways to engage youth in STEM and enhance our program’s impact. Jessica’s leadership will help us continue to nurture the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers, ensuring a brighter future for our industry and beyond.”
Jessica Pedersen joins AIA after her role as Senior Strategy Manager at General Dynamics Mission Systems. There, she led strategic partnership initiatives and consultants for the Space, Cyber, and Intelligence (SC&I) line of business. Jessica also directed the development and evaluation of annual strategic plans, focusing on encryption technologies, space and avionics, and tactical cross-domain solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Maryland.
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