BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has been appointed to the leadership board of the newly established Aerospace Committee under the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA). The committee was created in April 2025 to promote state-level strategies and policy development in the areas of aerospace, aviation, and defense.
At the NLGA Annual Meeting in July, Lt. Governor Nungesser was named one of six lieutenant governors to serve on the leadership board for the committee.
“The NLGA Aerospace Committee is an opportunity for state leaders in aerospace, aviation, and defense to collaborate on best practices and innovations,” said Nungesser. “I look forward to sharing Louisiana’s success in advancing U.S. aerospace and defense capabilities, supporting high-growth aviation companies and defense contractors, and offering the infrastructure and workforce that these industries demand.”
The bi-partisan NLGA Aerospace Committee includes lieutenant governors and up to two appointed representatives from each state and territory. In addition to Nungesser, the leadership board includes:
- Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (Alabama)
- Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez (Wisconsin)
- Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson (Utah)
- Lt. Governor Aruna Miller (Maryland)
- Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt (North Carolina)
The committee’s first in-person meeting is scheduled for October 20–21, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Additional convenings—both virtual and in-person—are being planned.
According to the Aerospace Industries Association (2023), the aerospace and defense industry supports more than 2.2 million jobs nationwide and contributes nearly $19 billion in state and local tax revenues. As the industry rapidly evolves, states play a critical role in shaping policies related to:
- Workforce development
- Economic growth
- Supply chain resilience
- Advanced manufacturing
- Defense communities
- Research and innovation
- Regulatory modernization
NLGA is the nonpartisan, nonprofit professional association for the lieutenant governors and seconds-in-command across the 55 U.S. states and territories. Members serve key roles in both executive and legislative branches and often lead initiatives that shape vital sectors, including aerospace and defense.