Pratt & Whitney chief is new aerospace association chairman

The head of a firm that provides military aircraft engines to the Pentagon soon will take over as the chairman of Washington’s top defense-aerospace trade association.



The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) announced Tuesday that its board of governors has elected David Hess, president of engine-maker Pratt & Whitney, to be the 2012 chairman. 

Hess will replace the influential Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing’s commercial aircraft division — and a former head of the Chicago’s defense giant’s military business unit.



Wes Bush, the chairman, CEO and president of Northrop Grumman will be the association’s vice chairman next year.



“I look forward to leading AIA as we continue to fight to preserve the nation’s aerospace industrial base and to modernize civil aerospace systems,” Hess said in an AIA statement.

“I’m proud of the steps we’ve taken to strengthen our partnership with government and this will continue to be a focus area for me,” he said. 


The AIA board also reelected Marion Blakey, a former FAA chief, as the organization’s president and CEO.
 
For much of 2011, AIA has been at the forefront of the fight against additional Pentagon spending cuts, arguing more reductions would force defense firms to shed jobs across the nation.