The Boeing Company, based in Seattle, Washington, is the largest aerospace company in the world, as measured by total sales, and the nation’s leading exporter. Boeing is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft, and the nation’s largest NASA contractor. The company’s capabilities in aerospace also include helicopters, electronic and defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, launch vehicles, and advanced information and communication systems. The company has an extensive global reach with customers in 145 countries and operations in 27 U.S. states. At year end 1998, Boeing and its subsidiaries employed approximately 231,000 people.