AIA CEO Melcher to leave trade group at year's end
By
Ross Wilkers
Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO David Melcher will leave the trade group on Dec. 31 after two years at the helm.
Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO David Melcher will leave the trade group on Dec. 31 after nearly two years at the helm there.
He joined the aerospace and defense industry's largest lobbying group in June 2015 nearly one month after the sale of Exelis, which he led as CEO since its 2011 spinoff out of former parent ITT.
Harris Corp. acquired its former defense technology rival Exelis for $4.75 billion in May 2015.
Arlington, Va.-based AIA represents almost 325 major aerospace and defense contractors and their suppliers on Capitol Hill, covering issues related to legislation, policy, budgets and acquisitions.
AIA's executive committee has started its search for the group's next CEO and Melcher will participate in the selection and onboarding processes related to the hiring of a successor. The executive committee is chaired by Boeing Chairman and CEO Dennis Muilenberg.
Melcher joined ITT in 2008 upon his retirement from the Army at the rank of lieutenant general. He later became president of the former ITT defense and information solutions group that later became Exelis upon the 2011 separation.