Aerospace is off to a good start in the 21st century, according to the recipient of SCAA’s Howard Hughes Memorial Award for 2007.

James F. (Jim) Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems division, told an audience of nearly 200 SCAA members and guests at the Feb. 7 award banquet that “it was in Southern California that aerospace truly came of age.” Speaking at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles, Albaugh added, “In fact, it can be said that aerospace built Southern California.”

The chief of Boeing’s $32 billion space and defense companies is the 29th recipient of the prestigious SCAA award. In his remarks to the banquet audience, Albaugh paid tribute to the previous recipients, many of whom he said he got to meet and know, including Neil Armstrong, Sam Iacobellis, John Brizendine, Kent Kresa, Harry Wetzel, Lee Atwood and Jack Real.

“I look at the business I run and the legacy is staggering,” he said. “From Howard Hughes we have our helicopter and satellite businesses. James McDonnell and Donald Douglas left the legacy of the F-18, F-15, C-17 and Delta rockets. North American Aviation and “Dutch” Kindleberger brought us the B-1, the Space Shuttle and International Space Station and a space heritage going all the way back to Mercury, communications and networks and missile defense. And, we carry on the 92-year tradition of Bill Boeing with AWACS, tankers, bombers and our contribution to the F-22.”

“It’s a heavy load sometimes,” he said. With a smile, he added, “I’m just trying not to screw it up!”

On behalf of SCAA, the traditional silver medallion was presented to Albaugh by his former boss and mentor from early in his career, Sam Iacobellis, retired chief of North American Rockwell and himself a former HHMA honoree.