Arlington, VA - The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has elected Phebe Novakovic, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Dynamics Corporation, to serve as Chair of the Board of Governors for 2026. Christopher T. Calio, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, RTX, will serve as Vice Chair. Eric Fanning has been reelected as AIA President and Chief Executive Officer.

"The aerospace and defense industry is an important component of our nation's national and economic security," said Novakovic. "I am pleased to serve as the chair of the industry's most important association."

"At a time when global competition is intensifying, supply chains are being reimagined, and innovation is reshaping every corner of aerospace and defense, strong leadership is more important than ever. We're honored to have Phebe Novakovic as Chair and Chris Calio as Vice Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association's Board of Governors in 2026," Fanning said.

"Phebe's strategic leadership and deep experience in national security make her an exceptional voice for our industry at a critical moment. Chris brings a sharp understanding of innovation and global competitiveness that will help guide our work in the year ahead. Together, they represent the strength and forward momentum of America's aerospace and defense sector - and I look forward to partnering with them to advance our shared priorities."

Fanning also thanked outgoing Chair Christopher E. Kubasik, Chair & Chief Executive Officer, L3Harris Technologies.

"We thank Chris Kubasik for serving as our Chair for an extended term, since fall 2024. His energy has propelled us forward when it mattered most and reinvigorated how we engage at every level of our organization, from Executive Committee CEOs, to our team members, to our partners in the U.S. government. We look forward to continuing to benefit from his guidance as Chair Emeritus," Fanning said.

The Aerospace Industries Association brings together hundreds of manufacturers and suppliers spanning every tier of the aerospace and defense ecosystem. These innovative companies power more than 2.2 million American jobs and drive economic growth nationwide. In 2024, the American A&D sector achieved nearly $1 trillion and has remained the nation's top manufacturing exporter.

AIA's policy priorities are shaped by direct engagement from CEO-level leaders of the nation's top aerospace and defense firms. The association is led by a Board of Governors that meets twice a year and an Executive Committee that meets more frequently. The Executive Committee includes AIA's Chair, Vice Chairman, and President and CEO, ensuring strategic alignment across the industry.

The members of the AIA Executive Committee for 2026 are:

John M. Holmes, AAR CORP.

Rick Nagel, Acorn Capital Management

Elisabeth Smith, Acutec Precision Aerospace, Inc.

Florian Aigrain, Acutronic Group

Eric Fanning, AIA

Ron Lopez, Astroscale U.S.

Tom Arseneault, BAE Systems

Lance Kwasniewski, Belcan Engineering

Sol Kanthack, Corvaer

Dorith Hakim, CPI Aerostructures

Amy Gowder, GE Aerospace

Phebe Novakovic, General Dynamics Corporation

Tom Gentile, Hexcel Corporation

Christopher D. Kastner, HII

Jim Currier, Honeywell Aerospace

Christopher E. Kubasik, L3Harris Technologies

Thomas Bell, Leidos Corporation

Patrick Marotta, Marotta Controls

Kathy Warden, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Christopher T. Calio, RTX

Scott C. Donnelly, Textron Inc.

Kelly Ortberg, The Boeing Company

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