WILLIAMTOWN, NSW Australia – November 2016 – BOEING, Boeing Defence Australia (Boeing) has hosted industry guests from the Hunter region in celebration of a new facility in the Defence Industry Park.
The new facility, located outside of Newcastle Airport, will support the Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) mission-critical Wedgetail work conducted by Boeing from Williamtown.
Vice President and Managing Director Boeing Defence Australia Ken Shaw hosted the event along with General Manager Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Scott Carpendale,
Mr Carpendale highlighted Boeing’s 80 plus year history and its future in New South Wales, as well as the importance of nurturing the local community to continue to build the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline.
“We’re excited to be working with local high schools and the University of Newcastle to encourage and inspire more students to enter STEM-related fields, as well as our Boeing graduate program, as we continue to foster innovation and encourage our future aerospace leaders,” Mr Carpendale said.
Officer Commanding Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems Program Office, Group Captain Dean Harvey, also spoke of how Defence and Boeing’s partnership has strengthened Defence’s influence on the STEM community. He cited the example of engineers from the Wedgetail program participating in the recent Hunter STEM Festival.
“We’re really proud of how RAAF and Boeing engineers are working together to help attract the future generations into STEM disciplines, Defence and the aerospace industry.”
Guests at the event also included the Deputy Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Jason Dunn, Port Stephens Mayor, Bruce Mackenzie, members of Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems Program Office and Tactical Fighter Systems Program Office, in addition to representatives from the University of Newcastle and other regional education organisations.