On this episode, Michael Campbell, president of ACD Consulting, a division of Coltala Aerospace, joins the podcast. Right now, the U.S. aerospace and defense sector is in the middle of a surge — and with it comes a nationwide race for engineering talent.
A recent McKinsey study shows the Aerospace and Defense workforce has grown to more than 2 million, yet still faces critical engineering shortages. Attrition rates have spiked to 15%, nearly four times the national average, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects another 13% growth in aerospace engineering demand through 2031. At the same time, almost a million engineering positions sit open across the country.
It’s a gap that now threatens production schedules, readiness, and U.S. competitiveness — making rapid, flexible engineering solutions more essential than ever. ACD is leaning directly into that challenge, showing how the right strategy can turn talent shortages into operational momentum.
Michael works closely with aerospace and defense programs across the U.S., helping organizations navigate workforce constraints through smarter engineering deployment, embedded expertise, partnerships, and technology adoption.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.acdc.aer.
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