Kay Ivey wins national AIAA Public Service Award for her support of aerospace industry

The Alabama government has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons lately — Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended over his attempts to block gay marriage following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, Mike Hubbard was convicted of 12 felony counts of public corruption and removed from office last Friday, Governor Robert Bentley‘s impeachment investigation got underway this week — but the drama stops with Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, who, unlike her colleagues, is making Alabama proud.

Wednesday night, Lt. Gov. Ivey was awarded the 2016 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Public Service Award at the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

The AIAA Public Service Award was established in 1986 to honor a person outside the aerospace community who has shown consistent and visible support for national aviation and space goals. Lt. Gov. Ivey was nominated by the AIAA Huntsville Chapter for her public service as a distinguished leader and stalwart supporter of the aerospace industry and profession in Alabama and throughout the nation.

“I was truly honored to accept the 2016 AIAA Public Service Award,” said Ivey in a news release. “It is a huge honor to join this distinguished group. The aerospace industry is not only important to Alabama but to our nation. I am proud to have a part in advancing the aerospace industry. Promoting STEM education through our partners in aerospace is vital for preparing the future workforce.”

Lt. Gov. Ivey currently serves as the national chair of the Aerospace States Association (ASA), an organization of lieutenant governors that represents states’ interest in aerospace. Ivey worked with the Alabama Legislature to create the Joint Legislative Aerospace Caucus to educate Alabama’s legislators on the important role aerospace plays to our state’s economy.