Abstract:  Applications of composite materials in aircraft products have spanned several decades.  These products include small airplanes, propellers, rotorcraft, military jets, and transport aircraft.  Historical perspectives on composites used in airframe structure will be presented, with an emphasis on transport aircraft.  The technical challenges and barriers to expanding, new applications will also be discussed as related to career opportunities.  Further emphasis will be given to the technical issues and behavior of composite aircraft structure as related to damage tolerance regulations, guidance documents and related training. Bio:  Dr. Larry Ilcewicz is the FAA Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Composite Materials.  He started work with the FAA in 1998.  Since joining the FAA, he supported many new small airplane, rotorcraft and transport aircraft certification programs.  He has also worked on accident investigations and service problems involving composites.  These experiences helped Larry develop an international plan for composite safety and certification initiatives to work with industry, academia and other government groups in pursuit of guidance, training and standardization.  Larry came to the FAA from Boeing, where he worked 17 years on various programs in the commercial transport aircraft division.  This included support to 737, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft in various stages of development, production and service.  Larry was also principal investigator for a large NASA-funded research program to develop composite design and manufacturing concepts for a wide-body transport fuselage in the 1990s. Dr. Ilcewicz holds a dual Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering and Wood Physics from Oregon State University.  He has authored/co-authored more than 70 technical papers and is the Co-chairman for Composite Material Handbook 17 (CMH-17). Host:  Prof. Keith Kedward