AIAC AT THE EXPLORERS CLUB ANNUAL DINNER IN DC
For Immediate Release
Washington, D.C. – December 6, 2025 American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) and its affiliates hosted its friends and colleagues at the Winter Gala of the The Explorers Club Washington Group on December 6, 2025. The formal, black-tie, full military dress uniform and ball gown gala was held in the Warne Grand Ballroom of the Cosmos Club, the traditional home for the Chapter’s events.
At the event, AIAC Chairman and Explorers Club Trustee and Poet Laureate L. M. Levie, hosted the following distinguished individuals at AIAC’s two tables:
Hon. John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution.
Jane Sullivan Roberts, Esq., Managing Partner, Washington D.C., Macrae; previously, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s Global Technology Group; Systems Engineer, Bell Laboratories.
Dr. Diana Villiers Negroponte, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; Global Fellow, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Ambassador John Negroponte, first U.S. Director of National Intelligence and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Iraq, Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines, and former Deputy Secretary of State.
Lindsay C. Howard, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor for Michael R. Bloomberg; former Senior Policy Advisor for Dr. Henry Kissinger; Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary of the U.S. State Department and the White House Legal Advisor for National Security.
Dennis Flannery, CEO, Stonehill Advisors, Former Senior Officer and Senior Advisor of the World Bank, U.S. Treasury, InterAmerican Bank, Citicorp, First Boston, and Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb.
Cindy Flannery, Campaign Director and Strategist, April McClain Delaney for Congress.
Clay Mowry, Chief Executive Officer, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics; President, International Astronautical Association; Founder/CEO, Satellite Industry Association; former Senior Vice President at Blue Origin, Voyager Space, and Arianespace.
Kristin Heim Mowry, Esq., Partner, Mowry & Grimson, former Multinational Trade Policy Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce and in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Partner of Kirkland and Ellis and Clerk for Supreme Court Justices Scalia and Thomas.
Olivia Troye, Senior Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, Senior Aide to the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
Judge Douglas Ginsburg, Senior U.S. circuit judge on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, former Chief Judge of the D.C. Circuit former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, nominated as Supreme court justice; among the most prominent antitrust and regulatory law.
Damon Silvers, Legal Representative for the Vatican and the AFL-CIO, Former Deputy Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel, and Former Chief of Staff of Senator Elizabeth Warren Harvard Law School JD and Harvard Business School MBA.
Nickie Jordon, Realtor, Sotheby’s International Realty, former Olympic level athlete and trainer in tennis, volleyball, and track.
Dr. Deborah Brosnan, Explorers Club Fellow, noted marine scientist, founder of Deborah Brosnan & Associates, Co-founder of OceanShot with John Paul DeJoria, works in collaboration with King Charles’ Foundation, Professor at Virginia Tech with fellowships at Stanford and the Smithsonian, Senir Advisor for governments at the UN and has testified before the US Congress on environmental policy.
A formal champagne and wine reception was held in the Long Gallery, located on the second floor of the Cosmos Club, after which guests were escorted to the baroque Warne Ballroom. Dr. William Bowerman, President of the Explorers Club Washington Group, served as Master of Ceremonies and delivered the initial welcoming remarks. Derick Craft then recited Ode to Exploration, by L. M. Levie, against background music of Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven. The verse is found here:
Dr. Bowerman recognized the dignitaries in the Cosmos Club ball room, including Chief Justice Roberts, Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau, Ambassador John Negroponte, Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg, and L. M. Levie, Trustee of the Explorers Club, guests of AIAC and its affiliates.
Chapter Program Director, Greg Williams then presented a musical tribute and video montage of photos of members who had died during 2025. Below are the lyrics to the tribute:
The musical tribute is found below:
Following this part of the program, Mr. Levie’s lyrical elegy, The Ballad of Jane Goodall, was presented. The video is found here:
Dr. Bowerman then conferred the Roy Andrew Chapman Award on celebrated biological anthropologist Dr. Noel T. Boaz and world renowned environmental microbiologist Dr. Rita Colwell. Dr. Colwell, whose efforts to combat the scourge of cholera have saved millions of lives worldwide, received a standing ovation.
Dinner was served, after which to EC 50 Award Winners Callie Broaddus and Callie Veelenturf delivered a stirring address entitled From Ridge to Reef, Exploring and Conserving Wild Places through Youth Action.
AIAC Chairman L. M. Levie commented,
"It is with profound gratitude and deep humility that I thank the Explorers Club Washington Group for the extraordinary honor of presenting my works—Ode to Exploration, There Walks a Breed, and The Ballad of Jane Goodall—at this year's Winter Gala.
To have these verses performed in the magnificent Warne Ballroom of the Cosmos Club, before such a distinguished gathering of explorers, scientists, diplomats, political leaders, and jurists, including such remarkably accomplished pioneers such as Dr. Rita Colwell and Dr. Noel T. Boaz, is a privilege beyond measure. The Explorers Club has long celebrated those who venture into the unknown, who push the boundaries of human knowledge, and who dedicate their lives to discovery. To contribute, even in some small way, to honoring that legacy through poetry and music is the greatest reward a writer could receive.
I am especially moved that There Walks a Breed served as a tribute to our members who departed this year. These were men and women who embodied the explorer's spirit—curiosity, courage, and an unyielding commitment to expanding our understanding of the world. May their memory inspire future generations to carry that torch forward. I am extraordinarily grateful for the club’s presentation of The Ballad of Jane Goodall. Jane was a cherished friend, mentor, and shining example to us all.
My deepest thanks to Dr. Bill Bowerman and the Board of Directors for their vision, their dedication to the arts alongside science, and for creating an evening that celebrated both human achievement and the enduring power of wonder.
The spirit of exploration lives not only in distant lands and uncharted seas, but in every heart that dares to ask, 'What lies beyond?'"
Following the Gala, by unanimous vote, Dr. Bill Bowerman and the Board of Directors granted Honorary Chapter Membership in the Explorers Club Washington Group on L. M. Levie, along with the title, Poet Laureate of the Chapter.
AIAC and its affiliates, Bradford Space, Arnprior Aerospace, SuperAlloy Manufacturing Solutions, Canadian Kraft Paper Industries, Champlain Cable, and Umbilicals International are corporate partners of the Explorers Club.
About Dr. Rita Colwell
Dr. Rita Colwell is an American environmental microbiologist who served as the 11th Director and first female Director of the National Science Foundation from 1998 to 2004, and is a distinguished professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Her work in marine microbiology and biotechnology has helped save millions of lives, particularly through her research on cholera bacteria—she taught women in developing nations a simple, folded-sari-cloth filtration technique for water purification that reduced the incidence of cholera by 50%.
She has received the National Medal of Science (2006), the Order of the Rising Sun from the Emperor of Japan (2005), the Stockholm Water Prize (2010), and the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize (2018), and a geological site in Antarctica, Colwell Massif, was named in her honor.
About Dr. Noel T. Boaz
Noel T. Boaz (born February 8, 1952) is an American biological anthropologist, author, educator, physician, and founder of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, as well as founder of the Integrative Centers for Science and Medicine and the International Institute for Human Evolutionary Research.
He studied at Phillips Exeter Academy, the University of Virginia (BA), University of California-Berkeley (MA 1974, PhD 1977), and Saba University School of Medicine (M.D. 2004), and has conducted major paleoanthropological research at sites in Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China (Zhoukoudian/Peking Man site), and Libya.
A paleoanthropologist with many years of field experience in Africa, he is the author of over 100 scientific publications and 8 books, including Eco Homo: How the Human Being Emerged from the Cataclysmic History of the Earth, Dragon Bone Hill: An Ice-Age Saga of Homo erectus, and Evolving Health. In 1999, Dr. Boaz was scientific planning director in Bosnia for Physicians for Human Rights.
About Dame Jane Goodall, DBE
Dr. Jane Goodall (1934-2025) was a pioneering British primatologist, conservationist, and humanitarian whose groundbreaking research transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and the relationship between humans and animals.
Born in London in 1934, Jane's fascination with animals began in early childhood. Despite having no formal scientific training, at age 26 she traveled to Tanzania in 1960 under the mentorship of paleontologist Dr. Louis Leakey to study wild chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park. Her patient observation methods led to revolutionary discoveries: she was the first to document chimpanzees making and using tools, a capability previously thought to be uniquely human. She also observed complex social behaviors, emotions, and family structures among chimpanzees, fundamentally changing scientific understanding of primates and our place in the natural world.
Jane earned her PhD in ethology from Cambridge University in 1965 and continued what became the world's longest-running study of wild chimpanzees, spanning over six decades. Beyond her scientific achievements, she became a tireless global advocate for conservation, animal welfare, and environmental protection.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to continue her work. In 1991, she established Roots & Shoots, a youth empowerment program now active in over 75 countries. She was appointed UN Messenger of Peace in 2002 and received numerous honors including Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dr. Goodall traveled approximately 300 days a year well into her later life, inspiring millions with her message of hope and individual action. She passed away on October 1, 2025, at age 91, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of scientific discovery, conservation leadership, and environmental activism.
For further information, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Goodall
https://janegoodall.org/our-story/about-jane/
About The Jane Goodall Institute
The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is a global community conservation organization founded by Dr. Jane Goodall in 1977. Originally established to support the research at Gombe, the Institute has evolved into a comprehensive conservation and education organization with a presence in 27 countries worldwide.
Mission
The Jane Goodall Institute works to protect chimpanzees and inspire action to conserve the natural world we all share, improving the lives of people, animals, and the environment. The organization operates on the principle that everything is connected and everyone can make a difference.
Core Programs
Community-Centered Conservation (Tacare)
JGI pioneered a holistic approach to conservation that recognizes the essential connection between protecting wildlife and supporting local communities. The Tacare program helps communities develop sustainable livelihoods while conserving chimpanzee habitats, addressing needs in education, health, food security, and economic development.
Chimpanzee Sanctuaries
The Institute operates sanctuaries for orphaned and rescued chimpanzees in Africa, including Tchimpounga in the Republic of the Congo and Chimp Eden in South Africa, providing lifetime care for chimpanzees who cannot be returned to the wild.
Research and Science
JGI continues the groundbreaking research begun by Dr. Goodall at Gombe, now the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in the world. The Institute uses innovative science and technology to advance conservation efforts.
Roots & Shoots
Founded by Dr. Goodall in 1991, Roots & Shoots is a global youth-led environmental and humanitarian program active in over 75 countries. The program empowers young people of all ages to become involved in hands-on projects for their communities, animals, and the environment, creating the next generation of compassionate changemakers.
Global Network
The Jane Goodall Institute operates through a network of 27 national offices, including:
The Jane Goodall Institute UK (founded 1988)
The Jane Goodall Institute Global (established 2013)
The Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation (founded 2017)
Impact
Through its community-centered approach, the Institute has transformed conservation practice by demonstrating that protecting wildlife and improving human lives are interconnected goals. The organization continues Dr. Goodall's vision of fostering respect and responsibility for all living things, building a future grounded in compassion, collaboration, and hope.
For further information, please see:
About The Explorers Club
Founded in 1904, The Explorers Club is a prestigious international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. Based at its historic headquarters in New York City, the Club has served as a meeting point and unifying force for explorers and scientists worldwide for over a century.
The Club's membership includes many of history's most renowned explorers and scientists, from polar explorers Robert Peary and Roald Amundsen to oceanic pioneers Jacques Cousteau and Robert Ballard, from aviation legends Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart to space pioneers like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Jim Lovell himself. The Club continues to support cutting-edge exploration in every realm—from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest peaks, from archaeological discoveries to space missions.
The Explorers Club is renowned for its rigorous standards of membership, requiring nominees to have made significant contributions to exploration or the sciences that advance our understanding of the world. The Club's Board of Trustees, Legacy Society, and various committees work to preserve the Club's mission while fostering new generations of explorers through grants, expeditions, and educational programs.
The Club's famous annual dinner, featuring exotic cuisine and presentations by leading explorers, has become legendary in New York society. More importantly, The Explorers Club continues to fund and support expeditions that push the boundaries of human knowledge, from climate research in Antarctica to biodiversity studies in remote rainforests to preparations for future Mars missions.
AIAC Chairman L. M. Levie serves as Member of its Board of Trustees and as Poet Laureate and Member of its Legacy Society. As Poet Laureate, Mr. Levie contributes to the Club's cultural mission by capturing the spirit of exploration through verse, honoring both historical achievements and contemporary discoveries that continue to expand the frontiers of human knowledge and experience.
For further information, please see:
About American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) is a diversified industrial group with manufacturing and distribution sites in 24 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia-New Zealand. AIAC has acquired and grown non-core subsidiaries and divisions of Boeing, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Johnson Controls, Merck, Pfizer, Astellas, Visteon, Carlyle, Ahlstrom, Tolko, Groupe Suez, Groupe Rexel, and many other leading multinational corporations.
AIAC companies serve companies and governmental entities worldwide in all major sectors, including aviation, space, defense, automotive, truck, rail, marine, petrochemical, solar, nuclear, food, confectionary, beverage, civil engineering and infrastructure, commercial construction, mining, dredging, disaster relief, education, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, AIAC companies are exclusive, authorized distributors of leading branded industrial and consumer products and serve as critical suppliers for the construction of major airports, schools, hospitals, performing arts and sports centers, offices and hotels throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. AIAC is a leading manufacturer of building, street, and highway signage in Europe, and a distributor of electrical products throughout France.
Of note, AIAC purchased Boeing Canada in 2005 and has produced over 10,000 unique components for every Boeing jet plane ever since, reliably serving Boeing from manufacturing facilities in North America. A leader in ultra-high precision jet engine component manufacturing, AIAC companies produce 2,200 fan blades for each jet engine produced by GE, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, and Honeywell.
AIAC companies actively support exploration into outer space, manufacturing critical components for launching and propelling spacecraft and satellites. AIAC customers in this sector include NASA, the European Space Agency, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing. research. AIAC affiliate, Champlain Cable Corporation, supported the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space missions with high performance wire and cable. AIAC companies also lead in the design and manufacture of undersea umbilical cables for worldwide oceanographic research.
AIAC companies produce the critical automotive wire and cable for Tesla, GM, Ford, Chrysler-Fiat, Toyota, and Nissan. In connection with its kraft paper manufacturing interests in Canada and the US, AIAC controls and sustainably manages 22 million acres of Manitoba, Canada forestland, an area equivalent in size to the nation of Hungary.
AIAC affiliate, Metallwarenfabrik Gemmingen GmbH, located in Germany, designs, manufactures and distributes high performance, emergency portable power generators utilized in global conflict zones and during natural disasters.
For further information, please see:
About AIAC Philanthropy
AIAC and the AIAC Foundation support a wide range of nonprofit, nonsectarian, bipartisan organizations which promote international conflict resolution, disaster relief, economic development, environmental sustainability, exploration, and the performing arts.
The exploration-focused nonprofit organizations which they actively support include the Explorers Club, the National Geographic Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Space Society, and the United States Space Foundation.
AIAC's other beneficiaries include the Appeal of the Nobel Peace Laureates Foundation Inc., the Asia Society, the Atlantic Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - Gates Philanthropy Partners, the Bretton Woods Committee, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carter Center, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Foreign Policy Association, the Institut Française des Relations Internationales, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Crisis Group, the International Rescue Committee, the Japan Society, the JFK School of Government of Harvard University, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), the Sierra Club, the Trilateral Commission, and the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute.
For further information, please see:
https://www.aiac.com/our-values
Media Contact:
Isabel Carro-Toro, Vice President
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation
+34 689 295 827 (Spain)
+1 787 244 3175 (USA)
icarro-toro@aiac.com
