Textron Systems, announced yesterday that AAI, an operating unit of the company, will become three separate operating units – AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, AAI Test & Training and AAI Logistics & Technical Services – led by Steven Reid, Bob Peters and Diane Giuliani, respectively. Reid, Peters and Giuliani have been promoted to senior vice presidents and general managers of their businesses, reporting to Fred Strader, Textron Systems’ president and chief executive officer.
“We are splitting AAI into three businesses – AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, AAI Test & Training and AAI Logistics & Technical Services – given their respective sizes and growing capabilities. These changes will enable each business to better support our customers’ current and future needs, while also making our company more efficient,” explained Strader.
AAI’s current senior vice president and general manager, Ellen Lord, will now lead Textron Defense Systems, also an operating unit of Textron Systems, where she will take over from Mark Catizone, who has taken a senior level position on Textron Systems executive leadership team.
“Ellen Lord has been a strong leader at AAI since mid-2008, playing a critical role in the integration of AAI into Textron Systems after the business was acquired in late 2007. She understands the changes affecting Textron Defense Systems’ customers and, given her previous program leadership roles within TDS, she has a deep knowledge of the TDS business,” added Strader. “Additionally, Mark Catizone’s experience as a general manager, systems implementations leader and finance executive will be valuable to our executive leadership team as we make other improvements across our company.”
AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, AAI Test & Training and AAI Logistics & Technical Services will continue to operate out of Hunt Valley, Maryland. Textron Defense Systems is located in Wilmington, Massachusetts.