National Park College (NPC) Innovative Technologies Center Director, Robin Pelton
was awarded the Bob East Accelerator Award at the 2019 Mid-America Aerospace and Defense
Summit held in Fort Smith, Arkansas last month.
The event is hosted by the Arkansas Aerospace Defense Alliance (AADA). AADA includes
public and private aerospace companies, government agencies and educational institutions
dedicated to growing the aerospace, aviation and defense infrastructure in Arkansas
and training a qualified workforce. The tenth annual Arkansas Aerospace and Defense
Summit was held in Hot Springs last year. AADA is working to expand the event to include
a national audience. This year they hosted the First Annual Mid-America Aerospace
and Defense Summit in an effort to broaden their reach.
This annual award is presented to an individual who has provided a significant contribution
to the growth of the aerospace and defense industries in Arkansas. Bob East was the
first recipient in 2018.
Pelton holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University
of Central Arkansas. She spent 17 years at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
(AEDC) where she worked closely with aerospace and manufacturing companies before
joining NPC in 2017. Pelton’s insights helped companies sustain profitability and
growth in Arkansas and resulted in the creation of the Arkansas Aerospace Alliance
and coordination of six annual Arkansas Aerospace Summits and Business-to-Business
Expos. She also participated in the Arkansas Aerospace Training Consortium, the NASA
Space Grant Consortium, and was a senior examiner for the Arkansas Governor’s Quality
Award Program.
“Without Robin Pelton, there would be no Aerospace and Defense Alliance in Arkansas,”
said Executive Director Chad Causey. “She has played an integral role helping Arkansas’
aerospace and defense industry grow toward its full potential.”
Gina Radke, CEO of Galley Innovation Solutions and chair of the AADA said, “Robin
was instrumental in starting the Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance. She not
only assisted in its development, but did a great job serving the industry in Arkansas.
Robin was like having another salesperson on staff for Arkansas businesses. She was
exceptional at making connections and finding solutions to industry problems.”
“Being the recipient of this award was validation for me, meaning that all of the
work I put in over the years was the right thing to do. It also gave me an opportunity
to recognize the people at AEDC that gave me the opportunity and the flexibility to
bring this group of folks together in the first place. I am especially grateful to
Maria Haley, Randy Zook and Steve Sparks. It also gave me an opportunity to thank
my boss at NPC, Kelli Embry, for encouraging me to remain active in the group in my
role here at NPC. It gives me great pride to know that I have had some small part
in the growth of many of the companies in the aerospace and defense industry,” said
Pelton.
