Neel Mehta
Eric Fanning, formerly secretary of the U.S. Army, will succeed Dave Melcher as president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association beginning Jan. 1.
“Eric will strengthen AIA’s position as the voice of the aerospace and defense industry, bringing continued attention and advocacy to key issues affecting civil aviation, space and defense,†Dennis Muilenburg, AIA chairman and Boeing chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement released Monday.
Fanning said he will work to lead AIA’s efforts to represent the A&D industry that recorded $872 billion in 2016 sales.
Fanning held senior leadership roles at the Defense Department and service branches, such as chief of staff for the defense secretary, acting secretary of the U.S. Air Force and deputy chief management officer at the U.S. Navy.
The 25-year government veteran previously served as associate director of political affairs at the White House and a research assistant at the House Armed Services Committee.
He is former senior vice president for strategic development at Washington-based think tank Business Executives for National Security and former managing director at strategic communications firm CMG.
