Ron Hainsworth
Cabin entertainment company Flight Display Systems, Alpharetta, Ga., named Ron Hainsworth regional sales manager of its new Wichita, Kan., sales office. Hainsworth came to Flight Display Systems from Bizjet International, where he was avionics sales manager. Before that, Hainsworth worked for Universal Avionics. Visit www.flightdisplaysystems.com.
Fran Phillips
Airborne telecommunications systems manufacturer AirCell, Louisville, Colo., named Fran Phillips senior vice president of Airline Solutions. Phillips will be responsible for all airline sales and program management activities related to AirCell’s new broadband service. Phillips was most recently at Connexion by Boeing, managing customer relationships, product development and passenger services. Visit www.aircell.com.
Steve Long
Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S), Exton, Pa., named Steve Long senior vice president of business development and operations. In his new role, Long will oversee IS&S’s marketing and sales efforts, contracts, program management and all facility operations, including manufacturing, assembly, testing and procurement. Before joining IS&S, Long spent 20 years in Parker Aerospace’s electronics systems division, eventually serving as general manager. Visit www.innovative-ss.com.
Kevin Pruett
Ensco Inc., Falls Church, Va., promoted Kevin Pruett to vice president of Ensco’s Aerospace Sciences and Engineering Division. Pruett joined Ensco in 2004. Prior to joining Ensco, Pruett was senior business development manager for homeland security at Harris Corp. Visit www.ensco.com.
Michael Heffron, David Herr
BAE Systems, Nashua, N.H., promoted Michael A. Heffron president of its Electronics & Integrated Solutions (E&IS) operating group. Heffron succeeds Walt Havenstein, who will become president and CEO of BAE Systems Inc.
E&IS consists of five major lines of business: Electronic Warfare; National Security Solutions; Sensor Systems; Network Enabled Solutions; and Platform Solutions. Heffron most recently was president of BAE’s Platform Solutions unit.
The company also named David Herr vice president of its commercial avionics business. Commercial avionics products include engine controls used on all GE and CFM International engines, and avionic systems for Boeing aircraft. Herr joined GE Aircraft Engines in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1986. He has since served in several operations, supply chain and program management positions at the former GE Aerospace and at BAE Systems. Most recently, he was vice president of operations for BAE Systems’ Electronics & Integrated Solutions operating group. Visit www.na.baesystems.com.
Dave Ellison, Alex Smith, David Ford
Surveillance and flight tracking systems supplier Rannoch Corp., Alexandria, Va., is undergoing a corporate shuffling following its acquisition of Czechoslovakia-based ERA.
Rannoch promoted Dave Ellison president and chief executive officer. Ellison joined the company in May 2006 as chief operating officer. Prior to joining Rannoch, Ellison worked for iLumin Software Services Inc. and Disclosure Inc., which was later acquired by Primark Corp.
Rannoch named Alex Smith to the new position of chief market strategist where he will focus on new market development and strategic international programs.
The company also named David Ford, who recently retired after 31 years with the FAA, vice president of strategic programs. Ford will be responsible for managing Rannoch’s strategic surveillance programs, including its ADS-B and multilateration technologies. Visit www.rannoch.com.
Tom McDermott
The Georgia Tech Research Institute’s (GTRI) Electronic Systems Laboratory (ELSYS) promoted Tom McDermott to director. McDermott, who has been with ELSYS for four years, has 22 years of technical and managerial experience at GTRI and Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems.
ELSYS focuses on systems architecture, defensive avionics and command-and-control systems. Visit www.gtri.gatech.edu
Tom Bisges, Malcolm Thomson
Adam Aircraft, Englewood, Colo., named Tom Bisges vice president, engineering and program management. Bisges has 20 years of experience in military and corporate aviation engineering, having served at Bombardier Aerospace and Sino Swearingen Aircraft. Bisges will manage the company’s engineering efforts, consisting of FAA type certification of the A700, service engineering and upgrades to the A500 and A700, and new product development.
The company also named Malcolm Thomson vice president, flight test engineering. Thomson will be responsible for the Adam Aircraft fleet flight-test techniques, procedures and all associated instrumentation and data systems.
Prior to joining Adam Aircraft, Thomson founded Optika, a document imaging and workflow software company that went public in 1996. He also worked at Blue Mountain Avionics and Ashton-Tate. Visit www.adamaircraft.com.
Jim Shirey, Jake Hart
Chelton Flight Systems, Boise, Idaho, named Jim Shirey vice president for business development. Shirey, who has more than 30 years of experience in aircraft manufacturing, flight test operations and marketing, was most recently vice president of marketing for North America with Sagem Avionics.
The company also named Jake Hart president of autopilot systems. Hart, a former Air Force pilot, worked as an experimental test pilot for Bell Helicopter and as test pilot/director with American Eurocopter. Visit www.cheltonflightsystems.com.