Category: About People

FDH Aero Appoints Ken Aso to Chief Operating Officer

FDH Aero (FDH), a global supply chain solutions provider for aerospace and defense OEMs and aftermarket segments, recently announced the appointment of industry veteran Ken Aso as chief operating officer.

Prior to joining FDH, Aso served as partner and senior advisor at Oliver Wyman, where he supported many leading OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and distribution service providers in the global aerospace and defense market. Prior to Oliver Wyman, he served in various roles at Boeing Global Services including managing director of global services engineering, maintenance and mods product management and managing director of commercial spares category management. He also served as senior VP corporate strategy & customer development at StandardAero.  

“Operational leadership is critical for our strategic initiatives,” said Scott Tucker, president and CEO of FDH Aero. “Ken’s proven ability to combine his deep industry experience with his focus on execution will help us to advance our key initiatives further and faster.” 

Aso earned an MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He also graduated from Walla Walla University with a BA in Business Administration. 

Manufacturer of Vammas Airport Snow Removal Equipment Names New President

C&C Manufacturing, the manufacturer of Vammas airport snow removal equipment with service and support worldwide, announced the appointment of David Bradford as president and COO. A seasoned executive, Bradford has more than 25 years’ experience in manufacturing and management at John Deere and most recently served as operations manager for Amazon’s fulfillment center in Bondurant, Iowa.

“C&C Manufacturing has grown over 125% last year with significant expansion in its core manufacturing business, its parts and service business, and it also opened a new certified refurbishing facility,” said Salvatore C. Calvino, chairman of C&C Manufacturing and CEO of Equivu Capital, a private investment firm that acquired C&C Manufacturing in 2021. “David’s depth of manufacturing expertise, leadership experience and strong track record of success makes him the ideal executive to lead C&C Manufacturing in this next phase of growth. We are extremely happy to have him join us in building the future of C&C.”

Most recently, Bradford served as operations manager for Amazon’s Bondurant, Iowa fulfillment center, and helped open this first center for Amazon in Iowa. Before that, he worked at John Deere for more than 22 years in a range of roles, including as director of global tractor and loader fulfillment (Moline,

Prior to that, he was general manager for John Deere Ottumwa Works, leading manufacturing for six product families of baling and mowing. During that time, Bradford served on the boards of the United Way, the Ottumwa Legacy Foundation and the local economic group, driving the “partners in progress” initiative.

In his long career at John Deere, he was also Factory Manager, John Deere Seeding Works (Valley City, ND), where he worked with the North Dakota Economic Develop Group on a $21 million factory expansion. He served in various other roles at John Deere, including Business Unit Manager Crawler Operations (Dubuque, IA) and Engineer in the Technical Center in Moline, Ill.

“I am thrilled to join C&C Manufacturing as president and lead it at this high-growth time, leveraging the backing of Sal Calvino, Gaylon Cowan and Jeff Cowan,” said David Bradford, president and COO of C&C Manufacturing. “My many years in the local Ottumwa community make it especially gratifying to join this amazing company and spearhead its manufacturing operations.”

Adi Silagy Returns to Britannica Knowledge Systems as VP of Engineering and Product Management

Britannica Knowledge Systems has announced the return of Adi Silagy, who has rejoined the company as the vice president of engineering and product management.

Silagy has extensive experience in the aviation sector and brings a wealth of knowledge, the company says, having previously worked with Britannica Knowledge Systems for many years.

In his new role, Silagy will oversee the engineering and product management teams. Silagy’s expertise will be invaluable in guiding Britannica Knowledge Systems’s growth and helping the company to deliver innovative solutions to its customers.

“We are thrilled to welcome Adi back to Britannica Knowledge Systems,” said Barak Kirmayer, Britannica’s CEO. “We are confident that Adi will help us achieve our goals and take our products and engineering to the next level.”

Silagy added, “I am excited to return to Britannica Knowledge Systems and continue to work with the talented team here. I look forward to building on the company’s success and contributing to the growth and innovation of our solutions.”

Storm Aviation Appoints New Director of Maintenance

Storm Aviation announced the new management appointment of Kenny Chan as director of maintenance. In his new role, Chan will be responsible for the management and development of all line maintenance, light maintenance and AOG services, and reporting directly to Storm Aviation CEO, Thomas Buckley.

Chan joins Storm Aviation from Cathay Pacific Group, where he served as head of line maintenance and was responsible for international line maintenance network covering operations, safety leadership, third-party business, end-to-end supplier management, and business improvement projects. 

Kenny said, “I am delighted to join Storm Aviation with this new role. The opportunity to work across the business delivering on transformational change and helping the company with its ambitious and visionary expansion in the future is exciting. I look forward to enabling the wider Storm’s engineering team to align with the group’s objectives by focusing on delivering operational excellence and exceptional service to our clients.”

Thomas Buckley, CEO of Storm Aviation commented, “We are dedicated to providing our clients with safe and reliable MRO services that keep them flying and so we are delighted to strengthen our team with a new director of maintenance, with an aviation career spanning over 20 years. Kenny has worked in a wide variety of major roles, there is no doubt that he is an exceptional addition to our team, bringing significant knowledge and experience to our clients and colleagues.”

Chan is an accomplished engineer across the full spectrum of aircraft engineering and a respected industry professional. He started his aviation career as a graduate engineer in Cathay Pacific in August 2001, he worked in a wide range of creditable technical and operational roles to develop his industry and operational expertise before moving up to management as regional Line maintenance operations manager for the airline in 2011. 

He is passionate about driving business transformation and the continuous development of the team. During his time is Cathay Pacific, he delivered many successful projects such as LM mobility, APU-less towing, potable water optimization and implementation of regional maintenance base in Taiwan, Shanghai, and Singapore to improve operational efficiency and enhance productivity.

Aerogility Adds to Team with Senior Business Analyst Appointment

Model-based AI companyAerogility is building on its ambitious growth plans with the appointment of Matthew Tootle as Senior Business Analyst.   

Tootle brings significant defense experience to the role, having spent more than 16 years at British security and aerospace company BAE Systems, working his way up from an apprentice through to manufacturing, procurement and support engineering roles. His last role at BAE Systems was a program engineering manager, where he was responsible for the integration and delivery of the support engineering products for a Middle East customer.  

As Aerogility expands its worldwide customer base, particularly across the USA, Tootle will be tasked with business development and project delivery, working alongside the product team and customers to identify opportunities to enhance the Aerogility model further. 

“Matthew has a wealth of international experience that will be of real benefit to us at Aerogility,” said Gary Vickers, CEO, Aerogility. “He has an extensive track record when it comes to building relationships with clients, understanding complex problems and working to find solutions. We’re looking forward to his support as we expand on our efforts to help clients take strategic decisions confidently by harnessing the power of AI.” 

Tootle says: “Aerogility’s digital twin capabilities are as exciting as the plans for the business, which is why it was clear to me that it was the perfect place to take my next step. My initial project will see me work across the UK and USA markets, delivering the team’s innovative model-based AI solution to enable customers to better operate, sustain and optimize platforms, services and infrastructure.” 

IBAC Announces Leo Knaapen in New Role to Lead Industry Partner Program Development

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has appointed industry veteran Leo Knaapen as head of the IBAC Industry Partner Program. Knaapen joined IBAC following his retirement from Bombardier in December 2022, where he was Chief of Industry Affairs.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Leo to the growing IBAC team. He brings to this new role at IBAC a depth of experience as a worldwide industry leader and an important contributor to IBAC and other key industry organizations,” Kurt Edwards, director general, IBAC, said. “Through the Industry Partner Program, Leo will lead efforts to grow IBAC’s capabilities to serve the global business aviation community at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  We are excited to have his passion and enthusiasm for business aviation, which will undoubtedly help IBAC expand our advocacy and reach for the industry.”

Leo Knaapen commented, “I am excited to join IBAC and look forward to strengthening the global business aviation industry at the ICAO level whilst encouraging a broader Industry engagement across the business aviation sector. I have witnessed first-hand the important results generated by this modest team of professionals and how its diligence and expertise have quietly benefited aircraft operators, manufacturers, and service providers.”

Leo added: “It’s now time to spread the word and build our partner base, so IBAC can accelerate the good work already underway and address emerging issues.”

Ali Alnaqbi, chairman of the IBAC Governing Board, said, “We are excited to have Leo join IBAC and look forward to working with him to build an interactive global business aviation community and advance IBAC’s work at ICAO.”

During his tenure with Bombardier, Knaapen successfully established a unique function guiding Bombardier’s overall engagement with civil aviation organizations while increasing its global engagement and leadership on key Business Aviation portfolios – notably in air safety and environmental sustainability.

A proven aviation expert and industry leader, Knaapen has been recognized by several organizations for his nearly four decades of service. They include NBAA’s Order of the Silver Scarf; IBAC’s François Chavatte Award; and the Canadian Business Aviation Association for his longtime leadership of CBAA’s Quebec chapter. In 2022, London-based Corporate Jet Investor named him one of the 20 most influential people in sustainable business aviation. 

A non-profit international trade association, IBAC represents business aircraft operators at ICAO, the UN-specialized agency that sets the global rules for international aviation. IBAC promotes safety, advocates for access and appropriate regulation, and advances sustainability efforts. Via its Industry Partner Programme, IBAC encourages the participation and support of business aviation manufacturers, service providers, and operators as Industry Partners and Operator Affiliates.

CEO Suzanne Markle Elected to National Aviation Board

The Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) has appointed Suzanne Markle, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), as one of its six new directors of the board. Markle will serve a four-year term.

In this capacity, Markle will help shape the future at trade schools that train students to enter one of the most important and in-demand career fields in the country: aircraft and avionics maintenance technicians. 

According to Boeing’s 2022-2041 Pilot and Technician Outlook, 134,000 new mechanics and avionics pros will need to join the field over the next 20 years to meet the growing needs of the aviation industry. Many of these openings are due to upcoming retirements, as ATEC estimates 38% of current aviation mechanics are at least 60 years of age — and if these retirees aren’t replaced, airlines will be forced to reduce the number of flights they operate. 

“Every day, the FAA handles 45,000 flights carrying 2.9 million passengers, and every one of them depends on the experience of skilled technicians to ensure their flights are safe, efficient, and on time,” says Markle. “With so many senior technicians about to retire, attracting new talent to fill these positions is crucial, and that means we need to rethink how the skilled trades are presented as career options to students of all ages, genders, and interests.”

As president and CEO of PIA, Markle oversees the strategic direction and operation of all PIA locations and programs. She is a member of the nomination committee for the National Aviation Hall of Fame and was appointed by the DOT to serve on its Women in Aviation Advisory Board. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Seton Hill University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from California University of PA, and a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Markle has been with PIA in various capacities since 1999.

New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects about 13,000 annual job openings for aviation maintenance and avionics positions over the next decade. With an average annual salary of $65,550 — and with PIA graduates’ typically starting their careers at $20 to $24 per hour — aspiring technicians can enter this rewarding and stable career field while incurring significantly less student loan debt than a traditional four-year college.

John M. Holmes Named Chairman of the Board of Directors of AAR CORP.

AAR CORP. announced that John M. Holmes, president and chief executive officer of AAR has been named chairman of the board of directors following the retirement of David P. Storch, the company’s chairman for 18 years. Holmes will continue as president and chief executive officer of the company. 

Holmes joined AAR in 2001 as director of Mergers and Acquisitions. In 2003, Holmes moved into operations, becoming general manager of AAR’s Parts Supply business and progressively assuming responsibility of other businesses before being appointed as president and chief operating officer in 2017. In 2018, he was named president and chief executive officer of AAR, the third since the company’s founding in 1955.

Under Holmes’s leadership, AAR has achieved substantial growth in sales and profitability, while successfully navigating the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, the company says.  As chairman, Holmes will focus on strategies to drive continued growth.

Storch, the second of the company’s only three CEOs, has served as a member of the board since 1989 and as chairman of the board of AAR since 2005. He retired as chief executive officer in 2018. Under Storch’s leadership, the company grew to the leading independent provider of aviation services globally.

Rotorcorp Names Mike Gomez Vice President of Strategic Growth

Rotorcorp, an authorized Robinson Helicopter Company Service Center, announced that it has tapped aviation industry veteran Mike Gomez to join its leadership team. Gomez joins Rotorcorp as the vice president of Strategic Growth.

While the position is new, Gomez and Rotorcorp have a longstanding professional relationship. As president of Allegro Consulting, Gomez has been providing advice and counsel to Rotorcorp on strategic planning, go-to-market initiatives, and business development.

“Over the course of our working relationship, Mike has earned my trust as well as that of our entire leadership team,” said Rotorcorp president and cofounder, Sean Casey. “Mike has proven to be an invaluable contributor and facilitator of the strategies which have guided our remarkable 385% growth over the past 6 years. We’re humbled and honored to add someone with Mike’s unique qualifications in business and aviation to the Rotorcorp team.”

Indeed, Gomez is no stranger to aviation or the Robinson Helicopter community. Prior to Allegro Consulting, he worked for both Lockheed-Martin and Boeing as a flight safety engineer, international business development director, and program manager. Most interesting among his many duties and accomplishments was leading fighter jet (F-16, F-15, F/A-18) sales campaigns to strategic U.S. military allies.

Gomez served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and as a civilian aerospace engineer for the U.S. Navy. He is both a rotorcraft and fixed-wing pilot. He is a graduate of the Robinson Safety Course and founder of the 2000-member Robinson Helicopter Pilots Group on Linkedin.

“I’m excited to return to the aerospace industry again,” Gomez commented. “But what drew me to Rotorcorp was my experience working with their outstanding leadership team. The opportunity to join such a driven group of professionals — all committed to supporting those who fly my favorite helicopter (Robinson) — was impossible to pass up. I look forward to developing strategies and initiatives that will directly improve our capabilities to serve the small-fleet and independent operators of Robinson R22, R44, and R66 helicopters.” Gomez has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aircraft Engineering from Western Michigan University. His first two years of college were spent at Auburn University, explaining his passion for Auburn football and basketball. Mike is a go-to market strategy and sales process advisor to Atlanta Tech Village (4th largest tech startup hub in America), he is also the recipient of the 2010 Mero Atlanta Global Impact Award for the strategy work he performed for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and their priority to attract new international companies to Atlanta.

Velo3D to Transform its Production Operations with the Hiring of Brad Kreger as Executive Vice President of Operations 

Metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, Velo3D, announced it has appointed Brad Kreger as executive vice president of operations to support the company’s goals in production growth, quality standards, and cost reduction. Kreger brings decades of experience overseeing and rapidly scaling operations in hardware production, including tenures at Thermo Fisher Scientific and its subsidiary Affymetrix, and Fluidigm Corporation. He will have oversight of Velo3D’s various manufacturing facilities and their corresponding teams, reporting to Velo3D CEO and founder Benny Buller.

Kreger’s career has centered around early-stage companies that are scaling the manufacturing of hardware while also making improvements in quality and cost. In his former role as senior vice president of global operations at Fluidigm, he successfully led strategic initiatives to increase production of its mass-cytometry technology, and improve the customer experience through operational efficiencies, enhanced infrastructure and streamlined execution. 

“Running global operations at a company that is scaling as fast as Velo3D is an incredible challenge, but Brad is well suited to help us reach the next level given his extensive background working with growing companies that provide highly sophisticated hardware,” said Buller. “I look forward to seeing Brad optimize our operations to accelerate the production of our Sapphire and Sapphire XC printers, increase our manufacturing capabilities, and reach our production goals for 2023 and beyond.” 

In his new role overseeing production, Kreger will lead all operations activities at Velo3D, including global logistics, manufacturing, quality, and procurement. Kreger will also be responsible for managing partnerships with key suppliers while automating planning and procurement processes. 

“Velo3D is in a unique position, as its metal additive manufacturing technology is experiencing increasing demand to meet the needs of its customers,” said Kreger. “I’m thrilled to join such an innovative company that is transforming so many important industries in meaningful ways. I am confident we will be successful in increasing the production of the Sapphire family of printers and navigating the growth we’re forecasting in the coming year.”