New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, Jan. 11, 2021

Jeremy Tondreault has been promoted to president of BAE Systems’ platforms and services sector. He was vice president and general manager of the combat mission systems business. Tondreault succeeds Guy Montminy, who is retiring.

Vertical Aerospace has appointed Richard Alexander head of flight physics. He was head of flight sciences at Bombardier Aerospace and chief flight dynamics integrator for the Mitsubishi M100 Regional Jet, among other types.

Airbus OneWeb Satellites has promoted James Hinds to CEO from chief operating officer. Hinds worked for Airbus Defense and Space in Toulouse and with Airbus, Boeing and predecessor companies in satellite engineering, production and project management. He succeeds Tony Gingiss, who has left the company. 

Virgin Orbit, the launch company, has hired Jim Simpson as chief strategy officer. He was CEO of Saturn Satellite Networks, CEO of Asia Broadcast Satellite, and head of strategy for Aerojet Rocketdyne and Boeing Network and Space Systems.

Thomas Instrument has hired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. (ret.) Chris Hill as general manager and director at its Boerne, Texas, facility and Brig. Gen. (ret.) John Kubinec as executive advisor. Hill was commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex. Kubinec commanded the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex. 

aviation executivesNoblis, a provider of science, technology and strategy services to the federal government, has named Glenn Hickok vice president of the defense mission area, directing work for Pentagon customers. 

Verus Research has promoted Grady Patterson to CEO from chief operating officer (COO). He succeeds Wheaton Byers, who will become senior director of development in the office of the chief technology officer. Succeeding Patterson as COO is Dan Treibel.

Western Aircraft has promoted M. Tyler West to Pilatus service manager from director for FAA Parts 145 and 135 operations; Jeff Watson to Falcon service manager from turboprop service manager; Brian Lair to quality assurance inspector from floor inspector; Adam Young to chief inspector from Part 145 repair and quality control; and Elliott Rupp to Pilatus PC-24 technical representative from lead technician. 

Cadence Aerospace has named Kevin W. Martin CEO of engines systems. He remains chief information officer. Martin succeeds Bob Quaglia, who has retired and will join the board of directors.

Bombardier has appointed Bart Demosky executive vice president and chief financial officer. He succeeds John DiBert, who has resigned. Demosky had been an executive at Universal Rail Systems, Canadian Pacific Railway and Suncor Energy. 

Electra.aero has named James (JP) Stewart as program manager for the technology demonstrator aircraft program and Alejandra Uranga as a technical advisor. Uranga is Gabilan assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of Southern California, an MIT research engineer and a technology lead of the NASA-funded N+3 program. Stewart was an Aviation Week “Twenty 20” in 2016.

Flight Schedule Pro, an operations software developer for flight schools, has hired Anna Luckey as principal user experience designer; Caleb Curry as an application developer to work with the development and information technology teams; Brittany Simmons as marketing coordinator; Leslie Schwarz as office manager; Trent Husak as lead technical support engineer; and Bryan Kriss as front-end application developer.

Duncan Aviation has promoted Jason Thuman to manager of its Kansas City, Missouri, satellite shop from its full--service facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. Brent Hudecek has joined the avionics sales team at Lincoln. He was an internal avionics sales representative for an original equipment manufacturer.

Graham Chisnall has been appointed chairman of the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium trade association. He succeeds Donald Spiers, who has retired. Chisnall had held leadership positions with BAE, GKN Aerospace and ADS.

Gogo has named Oakleigh Thorne chairman of the board, succeeding Ronald LeMay, who has retired. Thorne remains president and CEO. Current board member Hugh Jones has been selected as lead independent director.  

CB SkyShare has hired Tommy Aoki as president and Jonathan Schaedig as director of maintenance. Aoki was senior vice president of operations and digital strategy at Spring Mobile, and Schaedig was director of maintenance at Desert Jet.

FAI, the World Air Sports Federation, has elected David Monks to a two-year term as president, succeeding Bob Henderson. Monks was chairman of the Royal Aero Club of the UK and the Helicopter Club of Great Britain. 

HONORS & ELECTIONS

Program Director for the Aviation Electronics Technology Program at Guilford Technical Community College Larry Belton has received the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for lifetime achievement as a senior aviation mechanic, serving more than 50 years in civil and/or military maintenance. Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight, is credited with designing and building the engine for the Wright brothers’ first successful aircraft. c