Pelton Awarded Bob East Accelerator Honor

Robin Pelton receives the Bob East Accelerator HonorNational 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.