California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will join top executives from the region on Tuesday for a discussion of the state's economic future and the need for business and industry to closely collaborate with educators in the CSU.

The Aerospace and Cyber Security Workforce Development Summit, which begins at 10 a.m. in the Ursa Major Suite of the Bronco Student Center, consists of two roundtable panels that will identify and assess ways that CSU graduates, especially those from the STEM disciplines, can help close the "skills gap" that plague some employers seeking qualified professionals.

"The College of Engineering at Pomona is a gem in the California State University system," Newsom says. "Bringing California employers together with the students and leaders at Cal Poly Pomona is the first step in helping match the priorities of the college with the engineering needs of California companies."

Summit participants include William Albrecht, president of Oxy Oil & Gas Americas; Nathan Nayman, vice president for government relations at VISA; and Per Beith, information security solutions director at Boeing. Michael Kelly, executive director of the Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and Jobs, will serve as moderator.

One focus of the event is the evolving and growing need for cybersecurity professionals in virtually every major industry in the state. The National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have recognized Cal Poly Pomona as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, and the College of Business Administration's CIS department has been a national leader for innovation in educating the next generation of cyber warriors.

The event is sponsored by the Management Information Systems Student Association.

Admission to the summit is free, but registration is required.