Summit: October 7, 2026 | Expo: October 8-9, 2026

Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ

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Summit: October 7, 2026 | Expo: October 8-9, 2026

Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ

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Michelle Duquette

Michelle Duquette

CEO3MADAir

Michelle Duquette stands as an executive-level strategist and pioneer within unmanned and advanced aviation, widely recognized for translating technical complexity into industry-defining
results. As Founder and CEO of 3 MAD Air, she commands a unique space at the intersection of engineering expertise, operational leadership, and policy acumen enabling swift, secure integration of UAS and Advanced Air Mobility into the nation’s airspace.

Guided by more than two decades of high-impact advisory roles to federal agencies, including FAA, DOD, and homeland security leaders, Michelle is known for her ability to mobilize diverse teams and bridge civil-military integration, regulatory frameworks, and public-private 
alliances. Her signature achievements include stewarding research informing FAA approval processes, leading multimillion-dollar portfolios on drone and AAM risk, and conducting technical efficiencies and security analyses that drive mission assurance and regulatory evolution.


Michelle’s executive leadership is both visionary and pragmatic: she excels at operationalizing regulatory strategy, facilitating risk-based decision-making, and fostering innovation to solve the aviation sector’s most demanding challenges. Renowned for her ability to align stakeholders even in the most difficult settings, she is sought after for guiding cross-sector integration and harmonizing complex technical and policy environments.

Renowned for persistence, strategic creativity, and principled leadership, Michelle remains a catalyst for transformative progress and trusted advisor to the next generation of aviation 
leaders.

Wed Oct 0711:30 AM – 12:15 PMRoom A

Engineering Reliability at Scale: Ensuring Performance in Critical Joints

As products and systems grow more complex and performance requirements tighten, ensuring reliability at the joint and connection level has become a de…As products and systems grow more complex and performance requirements tighten, ensuring reliability at the joint and connection level has become a defining challenge across aerospace, automotive, medical, semiconductor, and other high‑spec industrie…As products and systems grow more complex and performance requirements tighten, ensuring reliability at the joint and connection level has become a defining challenge across aerospace, automotive, medical, semiconductor, and other high‑spec industries. This session examines how manufacturers design, validate, and sustain reliability in safety‑critical joints—where failure can compromise performance, safety, and brand trust. Attendees will explore how different industries define and measure reliability, and how those definitions translate into engineering decisions, material selection, fastening strategies, and validation methodologies.   Through a cross‑industry discussion, this panel will highlight common failure modes observed at scale and the engineering strategies used to mitigate risk across the product lifecycle. Topics include tolerance management, process control, verification and validation, and the role of manufacturing and field feedback in improving joint performance over time. The session will provide practical insight into how organizations align engineering rigor, quality systems, and supplier capabilities to achieve consistent, repeatable reliability—moving beyond isolated design excellence to performance that holds up in real‑world conditions.Show MoreClick the title to see all details

PanelSession TypeIFASSession Track
Michelle Duquette
Michelle DuquetteCEO, 3MADAir
Angela Durant
Angela DurantQuality Control Specialist, McCarthy Building Companies Inc.