On June 4, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) announced David Melcher, former CEO of Exelis, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Joining Melcher is Bob Durbin, who has assumed AIA’s role of new Chief Operating Officer (COO). After a 32-year career in the U.S. Army, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Melcher joined ITT in 2008 as Vice President of strategy and business development for ITT Defense and Information Solutions. When ITT spun off Exelis in 2011, Melcher became the new company's president and CEO. Melcher led Exelis through its recent successful merger with Harris Corporation in May 2015. Melcher has also served four years on AIA's executive and technology committees. Melcher has extensive program management, strategy development and finance experience, and worked closely with key leadership within the Army, Department of Defense, White House, and Congress. As a general officer, he served in the Pentagon as the Army’s Military Deputy for Budget, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs (G8). He also served as Commanding General of the Corps of Engineers - Southwest Division in Dallas.
Following the announcement of Melcher’s new position, AIA’s Chairman and President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Aviation, David L. Joyce stated: “Dave is an exceptional leader who, with his balance of corporate and military experience, brings an outstanding record of executive achievement to AIA. With Dave’s guidance, AIA will continue to champion the aerospace and defense industry and its ability to advance innovation in civil aviation, space and defense.” Durbin, who has been named the association’s COO, also joins AIA from Exelis, where he worked as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development. In this role, Durbin was responsible for leading the company-wide strategic planning process and driving the development of the corporate value creation strategies. Durbin, who joined Exelis after 35 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army, was also responsible for customer relations with the U.S. Department of Defense, military service staffs, the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, the Intelligence community, and customers in non-government markets such as commercial aerospace. He also led the Exelis international business development group, working with the company’s divisions to identify and pursue targeted growth opportunities outside the U.S.