WHO:     Key industry, Executive branch, Congressional and Wall Street
           leaders

  WHAT:    AIAA - Defense Reform 2001 Conference and Exhibition

  WHEN:    February 14-15, 2001

  WHERE:   Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
           1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
           Washington, D.C. 20004
           Metro Stop - Federal Triangle

  WHY:     This forum will give key industry, Executive branch,
           Congressional and Wall Street leaders an opportunity to evaluate
           the current status of defense reform and address future
           initiatives in an effort to assist the new Administration in
           setting its defense priorities and reform agenda. Attendees will
           participate in an interactive forum and will leave with a
           published copy of "A Blueprint for Action" -- an agreed upon,
           definitive plan for action, which will set the pace for defense
           reform efforts in the years ahead.

           Sponsored by the AIAA and defense contractors, the conference
           will feature a wide variety of speaking panels led by decision
           makers from all aspects of the defense and financial industries.
           A complete agenda and background material for the conference can
           be found at http://www.defensereform.org .

           Topics for discussion at the two-day event will include:
           Assessing the Health and Viability of the U.S. Defense Industry;
           The Future of Acquisition Reform; Setting the New Defense
           Priorities and Reinvigorating the Acquisition Reform Agenda; DoD
           and the Defense Industry Partnership; Financial Health of the
           Defense Industry in 2001; Military Requirements for Defense and
           the Budget Allocation for Defense Procurement; The Global
           Marketplace, and Defense Reform Recommendations.

For conference and registration information, please visit the AIAA website at http://www.aiaa.org/ . Pre-registrants may pick up their materials at the advance conference registration desk. There will also be onsite registration available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14, or from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 15, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

** Credentialed members of the press will be allowed into the conference free of charge; however, they must sign in at the conference registration desk.

CONTACT: Kathy Watkins, AIAA Market Development, 703-264-3847, or fax, 703-264-7551, or kathyw@aiaa.org.

PRNewswire -- Feb. 12

SOURCE: AIAA