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The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has announced that Theodore "Ted" Colbert III has been elected as the Chair of the Board of Governors for 2024.
Colbert is the executive vice president at The Boeing Company and the president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. He was also the 2022 Black Engineer of the Year award recipient.
Christopher E. Kubasik, the chair and CEO of L3Harris Technologies, will serve as the Vice Chair, while Eric Fanning has been reelected as the AIA President and Chief Executive Officer.
"The Aerospace Industries Association has been an essential voice in the aerospace and defense industry since its foundation," said Colbert. "I am excited to step into this new role as Chair and look forward to seizing all opportunities to position our industry for continued leadership, innovation, and growth."
According to the AIA press release, the U.S. aerospace and defense industry remains a beacon of American ingenuity and leadership.
The AIA represents over 320 manufacturers and suppliers across every aerospace and defense industry sector and tier. These world-class and high-technology companies support more than 2.2 million jobs across the United States. In 2022, the American A&D industry generated over $952 billion in total sales, which is up 6.7 percent from the previous year.
The AIA's Chairman, Vice Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer serve on the Executive Committee that meets more frequently. The Board of Governors, which is led by the executive committee, meets twice a year.
The direct involvement of CEO-level officers from the major aerospace and defense companies helps guide and shape the policy goals for AIA and the entire industry. Tom Gentile, the previous chair, was an incredible asset to AIA's mission, and now, Colbert will follow in his footsteps.