---
title: SR 685. Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day; recognize February 3, 2026
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr685
cite_as: SR 685, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr685
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr685.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr685/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72741
date: 2026-02-03
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr685.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 685
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-03
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Kay Kirkpatrick
  - John Albers
  - Ben Watson
  - Jason Anavitarte
  - Larry Walker
  - Ed Setzler
  - Jaha Howard
  - Michael Rhett
  - Greg Dolezal
  - Matt Brass
  - Chuck Payne
  - Nan Orrock
  - Kenya Wicks
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR685/2025
upstream_id: 2104395
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - aerospace industry
  - defense industry
  - Georgia economy
  - state recognition day
  - workforce development
---

# SR 685. Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day; recognize February 3, 2026

## Text

Senate Resolution 685
By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, Watson of the 1st, Anavitarte of
the 31st, Walker III of the 20th and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the work of Georgia's aerospace and defense industry and recognizing February
3, 2026, as Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Georgia is home to a robust aerospace and defense industry, encompassing
more than 800 companies, including an estimated 320 aerospace manufacturing firms, more
than 120 MRO facilities, and over 70 airline and charter operations employing more than
200,000 Georgians; and
WHEREAS, aerospace and defense industry products are Georgia's top export product
category and the state's second largest manufacturing industry, generating an estimated
annual economic impact of $57.5 billion; and
WHEREAS, aerospace and defense industry products have remained the State of Georgia's
number one international export since 2004, with 2024 aerospace and defense exports
totaling $12.6 billion, including civilian aircraft and parts, turbojets, turbo propellers, aircraft
launching gear, parachutes, and nonpowered aircraft; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, Georgia's top ten international markets for aerospace industry exports
included Canada, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, U.A.E., and the
United Kingdom; and
WHEREAS, this state has a proud history as both a manufacturer and host of advanced
military aircraft and equipment, and seven of the world's top ten defense contractors maintain
a presence within the state of Georgia, serving as top employers for newly retired veterans;
and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia received more than $15.3 billion in Department of War
funding in Fiscal Year 2023, representing the economic impact of personnel salaries, defense
contracts, and facility construction; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Aerospace & Defense Alliance (GADA) serves as the unified voice
for Georgia's aerospace, aviation, and defense ecosystem, bringing together industry leaders,
higher education institutions, and government partners to advocate for workforce
development, innovation, and long-term competitiveness, and was founded by Gulfstream
Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, FlightSafety International, Rolls-Royce, and RTX; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's higher education institutions are dedicated to delivering top-tier talent
for the aerospace and defense mission through the aerospace career pipeline; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia Institute of Technology is home to the number one public aerospace
engineering program in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report, and the
Georgia Tech Research Institute executes nearly $1 billion of sponsored research for national
security and keeping our nation safe; and
WHEREAS, Mercer University, through its School of Engineering and the Mercer
Engineering Research Center (MERC), a research institute of Mercer University, has been
an integral partner to the Robins Air Force Base community since 1987, advancing applied
research, engineering innovation, and workforce development, with nearly 90 percent of its
School of Engineering graduates remaining in this state; and
WHEREAS, Georgia Southern University's Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and
Computing is advancing aerospace innovation through cutting-edge research in sustainable
fuels, aircraft power systems, and advanced manufacturing, while equipping students with
the skills and expertise needed to support Georgia's aerospace industry; and
WHEREAS, the flagship and land grant institution of this state, the University of Georgia's
College of Engineering is dedicated to supporting the state's thriving and expanding
aerospace industry through education, workforce development, collaborative and innovative
research, and by providing support to those investing in our great state; and
WHEREAS, Kennesaw State University (KSU) is meeting the growing demand for
aerospace talent by launching its Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering degree
program, building on the success of its highly enrolled minor, offering hands-on research
opportunities, industry collaboration, and experiential learning designed to prepare graduates
for careers in aeronautics and astronautics; and
WHEREAS, with 68 percent of KSU engineering graduates remaining in Georgia five years
after graduation, the university's aerospace engineering program will strengthen the state's
workforce while advancing innovation in one of Georgia's most critical industries; and
WHEREAS, Lockheed Martin is celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary of continuous
operations in Marietta, Georgia, in 2026, and builds two iconic military programs, the C-130J
Super Hercules and the F-35 Lightning II, in its Georgia facilities, supporting direct and
indirect jobs for more than 20,000 Georgians; and
WHEREAS, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation has operated continuously at its worldwide
headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, since 1967, designing, manufacturing, and supporting
the world's most technologically advanced business aircraft, now employs more than 13,000
in this state, has a Georgia payroll of over $1.4 billion and is the largest manufacturer in the
state; and
WHEREAS, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world's busiest and
most efficient passenger airport and Georgia is home to the largest single container terminal
and most extensive rail and interstate system in the Southeast, providing a seamless air, sea,
and ground transportation network; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's aerospace and defense industry continues to grow thanks to the state's
positive business climate and bipartisan support at the local, state, and federal levels of
government.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
honor the work of Georgia's aerospace and defense industry and recognize February 3, 2026,
as Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day at the state capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to representatives of
the aerospace and defense industry, higher education officials, and other representatives as
deemed necessary.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Senate resolution designates February 3, 2026, as Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day, honoring the industry's economic impact and workforce in the state.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a ceremonial statement from the Senate recognizing the size and economic importance of Georgia's aerospace and defense industry, which the resolution says includes more than 800 companies and employs over 200,000 Georgians. The text cites export figures, defense funding, major employers like Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream Aerospace, and university programs at Georgia Tech, Mercer, Georgia Southern, the University of Georgia, and Kennesaw State that train aerospace workers.
The resolution formally designates February 3, 2026, as Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day at the state capitol and directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to industry representatives, higher education officials, and others.

### What it does

- Designates February 3, 2026, as Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day at the state capitol.
- Formally honors the work of Georgia's aerospace and defense industry through a series of factual recitals about its size and economic impact.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to industry representatives and higher education officials.
- Creates no new laws, funding, taxes, or regulatory requirements; it is a ceremonial recognition only.

### Who it affects

The resolution touches Georgia's aerospace and defense companies such as Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream Aerospace, the roughly 200,000 workers in the industry, and public universities including Georgia Tech, Mercer, Georgia Southern, the University of Georgia, and Kennesaw State that train aerospace talent.

### Why it matters

Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law, it does not create new rights, funding, or obligations for anyone. Its practical effect is a formal, symbolic day of recognition for the aerospace and defense industry and the people who work in it.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses recite industry statistics, including more than 800 aerospace and defense companies and an estimated $57.5 billion annual economic impact.
- The resolved clause designates February 3, 2026, as Georgia Aerospace and Defense Day at the state capitol.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to industry and higher education representatives.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-03)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-03)
- Sponsors: Kay Kirkpatrick, John Albers, Ben Watson, Jason Anavitarte, Larry Walker, Ed Setzler, Jaha Howard, Michael Rhett, Greg Dolezal, Matt Brass, Chuck Payne, Nan Orrock, Kenya Wicks
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72741

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr685.md?full=1