Daniel Myers, president of Veteran Equipment Sales (VES), is a service-disabled veteran who believes the people who keep aircraft mission-ready deserve the same level of protection as the aircraft themselves. That belief was forged over decades in aircraft sustainment, from his early service in the United States Air Force to his later role at a major aircraft depot facility. There, every strip, blast, and repaint demanded absolute precision, yet the environments supporting that work often lagged far behind the hazards involved. Throughout his career, Myers repeatedly saw technicians performing high-risk corrosion control tasks in outdated facilities with poor airflow, improperly sealed equipment, and a lack of knowledge on hexavalent chromium, exposing them to toxic dust and long-term health consequences. Safety was treated as an individual responsibility rather than an engineered condition. Watching skilled operators shoulder risks that engineering progress should have already eliminated shaped his conviction that protection must be designed into the environment, not delegated to behavior. VES, an SBA-certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business based in Idaho, now carries that conviction forward. The company designs and manufactures integrated corrosion control environments for aerospace, defense, mining, and other industrial sectors. Its systems combine controlled spaces, engineered airflow, and operator protection into a single, unified solution built around one principle. People come before products. “Our primary goal is that the operator can safely do the mission with the right protection in place,” says Myers.

Top Custom Aerial and Scissor Lifts Manufacturer

The aerospace sector pushes operations into environments where height, precision, and safety converge. Overhead access isn’t a convenience; it’s the backbone of production, inspection, and continuous uptime. Few companies understand that better than Lift-A-Loft. With roots stretching back more than 70 years, Lift-A-Loft’s history is a testament to its expertise in the field. Founded in the 1940s, the company first engineered rugged, truck-mounted lifts that kept cities’ lighting infrastructure operational. That experience revealed a larger industrial challenge, and in 1952 Lift-A-Loft responded with the first LAL model, a breakthrough that redefined how large manufacturing plants approached overhead maintenance. As aircraft grew larger, facilities expanded, and safety standards intensified, Lift-A-Loft didn’t just adapt; it led. Each generation of lift technology reflected a deeper understanding of the industries it served, and that legacy of innovation positions the company as one of the most trusted names in the field. Today, the company stands at the forefront of electric and gasoline-powered GSE, electric industrial maintenance lifts, and truck-mounted lifts. The aerial platforms are embedded in mission-critical aerospace environments to support the people and processes that keep modern aviation moving safely and without interruption. “For us, experience isn’t just history; it’s the blueprint. Each generation of Lift-A-Loft engineers has learned directly from the field, and that knowledge shapes every system we create today. The engineers design and adapt mobile and stationary systems for critical manufacturing and inspection needs by customizing proven lift platforms or building completely new solutions to exact specifications,” says Braedon Stark-Abbott, sales associate. That collaborative approach directly fuels product innovation. The company supplies its APX Series lifts to a wide range of customers, featuring an 80-volt lithium-ion battery and designed for tarmac use to support APU access and general aircraft maintenance. It also offers compact TL-22 pickup-sized lifts and large-capacity TMX platform lifts built on commercially available electric & gas chassis, engineered with the specific operational realities of aviation leaders in mind.

Space Consulting Company of the Year 2026

The new space economy, often described as the small business in space movement, is not just about launching satellites or selling advanced technology. It is about building a connected network where innovation sparks collaboration and collaboration drives meaningful progress. Many companies enter this sector with breakthrough ideas capable of transforming industries, enhancing connectivity, and expanding the boundaries of exploration. Yet even the most promising ventures soon realize that success depends less on selling a product and more on the ecosystem that sustains it. In this new reality, organizations are no longer focused on selling a product in space but on delivering a complete service that integrates technology, customers, and long-term value. Access to technical collaborators, institutional support, and customers who can recognize and value innovative solutions is essential. Without these connections, even revolutionary technologies may struggle to scale effectively. Navigating this complex landscape requires vision, patience, and the ability to foster enduring relationships across borders and industries. Amid this challenging environment, 3i3Signature LLC has emerged as a trusted enabler for European and American New Space startups, as well as established aerospace companies. Founded by Philippe Boissat, a former global aerospace and defense executive with Deloitte, the company specializes in helping organizations navigate international expansion, build meaningful collaborations, and gain visibility with the right clients. By working closely with the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, 3i3Signature LLC ensures that its clients can overcome regulatory hurdles, establish local operations, and position themselves for sustained growth. Its work spans small innovators with disruptive technologies to large aerospace groups such as Boeing and SpaceX. The company also collaborates with new aviation ventures developing electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered solutions, supporting innovation across the spectrum of space-related industries. “Many businesses make the mistake of trying to sell products immediately,” says Boissat. “The right approach is to build a strong ecosystem first. Alone, even the most inventive business can achieve very little. By fostering technical, institutional, and financial collaborations, organizations can create solutions that attract and retain customers over the long term.” A Three-Step Approach to Growth 3i3Signature LLC structures its services around a clear three-step approach designed to help clients maximize their impact. The first step, understanding and visibility, involves assessing a firm’s positioning and communication strategy. The team reviews messaging clarity, website effectiveness, and whether potential customers understand the value being offered. By aligning objectives and refining the value proposition, 3i3Signature LLC establishes a foundation for all subsequent initiatives. This ensures that clients communicate confidently, present offerings effectively, and build credibility from the outset.

Top Active Threat Response Training Solution 2026

Every organization prepares for the alarms they expect like data breaches, financial disruptions, and operational breakdowns. But the threat that most often catches them off guard is sudden violence in the workplace, classroom, or public space. In recent years, active shooter incidents have grown in both frequency and complexity, exposing a stark reality: many organizations remain dangerously unprepared. Despite advancements in technology and infrastructure, human safety often remains off the radar. To bridge this critical gap, Active Shooter Response (ASR) Solutions steps in. From businesses in aerospace and defense to universities and medical facilities, the company offers comprehensive security training solutions to protect their most important asset: people. By directly engaging with security or emergency management teams, it assesses each client’s distinct needs, identifies vulnerabilities and implements personalized strategies to strengthen safety. “At the heart of what we do is empowering people to act with confidence under pressure. Even if they never face an active shooter, the skills to manage stress and stay calm could one day save a life,” says Kyle Sproles, Special Forces Green Beret. “That’s what ‘For the Preservation of Life’ truly means in action.” ASR Solutions turns readiness into action with two core offerings to address the immediate threat of violence and the preventive steps that reduce risk.

Top Military Scenting System 2026

Military and law enforcement simulations need to recreate environments—from villages to cockpits—with absolute realism. But realism isn’t just visual; high-pressure moments rely on sensory cues that trigger instinctive reactions. Smell reaches the human brain faster than sight or sound and often serves as the first red flag. In training environments, controlled scent cues hard-wire early detection skills that translate directly to real-world readiness. SensoryCo is at the forefront of driving realistic training outcomes by delivering controlled, precisely timed aroma signals into live exercises, labs and virtual or augmented setups. Its scent-generators introduce emergency-related scents at the precise moment instructors need them, prompting the specific response trainees are being trained to perform. SensoryCo evolved from Koolfog, a theme-park engineering group with 35 years of experience in sensory effects. That legacy now serves both themed entertainment and mission-critical training. “Our technologies use scent to deepen engagement and trigger memory, strengthening military training through realistic simulations and live scenario exercises,” says Bryan Roe, president. An Air Force emergency response program demonstrates the impact. The team needed a way to simulate the earliest warning of a helicopter in-cockpit emergency, when a pilot detects burning electrical components. SensoryCo integrated its system into the simulator, enabling instructors to trigger a precise electrical fire scent that prompts immediate recognition and instinctive response. Controlled Scent Delivery for High-Precision Training In military and emergency simulations, scent delivery must adapt to the scenario. Some exercises require a close-range signal triggered the moment a container opens. Others call for controlled diffusion across enclosed rooms or simulator spaces. Multi-zone environments layer scent only as trainees enter specific areas. In every case, precision control sets the standard.

Defense Business Development Service of the Year 2026

The military alliance between South Korea and the U.S.—often described as a ‘relationship forged in blood’—dates back to 1953. Originally conceived as a bulwark against communist expansion in Asia, it has since evolved into a comprehensive global strategic partnership. It comprises joint defense programs, advanced weapons co-production, shared technology development and integrated logistics. Beneath this progress runs a complex current of export controls, procurement laws and contrasting organizational cultures that require seamless alignment across borders. Delta One was founded in 2020 to deliver the expertise that makes this happen. A U.S.-based consultancy, Delta One specializes in industrial cooperation and offset programs. It is committed to making the collaboration between U.S. and South Korean aerospace and defense organizations compliant and commercially viable. “Our role is to make trans-Pacific collaboration more attainable,” says Hwa Yu, CEO. “We understand the cultural expectations, the business languages and the constraints on both sides, and we use that insight to create alignment where most see friction.”

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EDITORIAL

Designing Readiness for Modern Defense

This edition of Aerospace and Defense Review examines how engineering discipline, ecosystem building and operational realism are redefining readiness as safety, speed and integration become decisive priorities.

Our cover story recognizes Veteran Equipment Sales, awarded Top Aircraft Paint and Blast Hangars Service 2026. Built on Daniel Myers’ firsthand experience in aircraft sustainment, it has reshaped corrosion control by engineering operator protection directly into blast and paint environments. By delivering fully integrated systems that unify airflow, containment and governance, the company reduces exposure risks while improving mission reliability.

The issue also highlights organizations delivering impact across specialized domains. 3i3Signature LLC, named Space Consulting Company of the Year 2026, helps New Space startups and established aerospace firms convert innovation into sustainable growth across the U.S. and European markets. Delta One, recognized as Defense Business Development Service of the Year 2026, strengthens U.S.–South Korea defense cooperation by aligning compliance, culture and strategy to enable long-term industrial partnerships.

Active Shooter Response Solutions, awarded Top Active Threat Response Training Solution 2026, addresses readiness gaps through realistic training and site assessments focused on human performance under pressure. Lift-A-Loft, honored as Top Custom Aerial and Scissor Lifts Manufacturer 2026, delivers customized access solutions critical to aerospace maintenance, while SensoryCo, named Top Military Scenting System 2026, enhances training realism through precise scent cues that sharpen early threat recognition.

Strategic insights add strategic depth. Maria Demaree, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business and Digital Transformation & CIO at Lockheed Martin Space [NYSE: LMT], outlines progress in advancing Joint All Domain Command and Control through space-based sensing and resilient architectures. Dr. Markus Heinimann, Director of Product and Process Technology at ATI [NYSE: ATI], examines titanium’s role in armor modernization, linking materials innovation to survivability, mobility, and supply chain resilience.

Together, these highlights show that leadership today lies in engineering risk out of operations, strengthening ecosystems, and preparing people and platforms for evolving threats. We invite readers to explore how disciplined innovation is shaping the future of the aerospace and defense industry.