Today, we are talking with Jessica Rivard, a senior business analyst at Cora Systems, and previously she worked at Fincantieri Marine Group, where she spent over 15 years working in the defense sector in a range of roles, including senior corporate applications manager and both as a business and systems analyst. We discuss the increasing concern over cybersecurity threats from actors like China and North Korea, the importance of competitiveness and innovation in the defense space, and the use of AI in areas such as virtual reality simulations and data analysis. Jessica also highlights the significance of adhering to earned value management techniques and the challenges faced by the industry, including the longer product life cycles caused by factors like knowledge loss and resource demand. Overall, the podcast emphasizes the need for organizations to stay updated, comply with regulations, and leverage technological advancements to address industry challenges effectively. Important Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 03:28 - The critical trend in the aerospace and defense industry 05:47 - The process on Cybersecurity 07:17 - Strengthening Cybersecurity 07:59 - AI in Aerospace 11:29 - Importance of getting more information 11:51 - Earned Value Management 15:01 - The product life cycle analysis 21:29 - Management is key Connect with Jessica Rivard  Email: [email protected] Bonus Jessica explores this topic in more detail in her guide at https://corasystems.com/guidebook/aerospace-defense-projects-8-headaches-keeping-your-pmo-awake-at-night/