How Aerospace & Defense Programs Can Manage Component Obsolescence Without Risk
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM (GMT-04:00) Eastern Time - New York
Duration: 60 minutes
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Component obsolescence is an unavoidable reality for long-life aerospace and defense systems. As original manufacturers discontinue legacy devices, program teams must find ways to sustain critical electronics without introducing qualification risk, quality uncertainty, or supply chain vulnerability.
This webinar will examine how authorized aftermarket manufacturing provides a reliable path for maintaining long-term component availability in mission-critical programs. Industry experts will discuss the manufacturing controls, traceability practices, and quality assurance standards that enable aerospace and defense organizations to continue supporting legacy platforms with confidence.
Attendees will gain practical insight into how trusted manufacturing partners help programs maintain readiness while meeting strict reliability and compliance requirements.
What You'll Learn:
• How component obsolescence affects mission readiness in aerospace and defense programs
• How authorized aftermarket manufacturing sustains discontinued components
• Traceability, documentation, and compliance requirements for HiRel electronics
• Best practices for managing long-life electronic systems and sustaining legacy platforms
Whether you work in sustaining engineering, supply chain management, reliability engineering, or program management, this webinar will provide actionable insights to help you protect mission readiness and maintain long-term system support.
Mark Whiteside
Manufacturing Opportunity Assessment Lead
Rochester Electronics
Mark Whiteside has nearly 40 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. Since starting his career as a wafer fab process engineer, he has contributed in numerous capacities, including design, test, project management, and operations. Mark’s experience spans both commercial and high-reliability semiconductor companies serving a wide range of applications. He joined Rochester Electronics three years ago and currently serves as Manufacturing Opportunity Assessment Lead on the Manufacturing and Engineering team.
Steve Hirschfeld
Director of Quality
Rochester Electronics
Steve Hirschfeld has over 40 years of experience in the semiconductor component manufacturing industry. Since starting his career as an electrical test engineer, he has contributed to numerous capacities, including assembly, reliability testing, and supply chain management encompassing oversight of processes from raw materials through subcontractor manufacturing, management, operations, and quality.
Steve’s experience spans product reliability levels from commercial to high-reliability components serving a wide range of applications. He joined Rochester Electronics thirty years ago and currently serves as the Director of Quality.