With the upcoming retirement of Dr. Wanda Austin, president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation in October 2016, Aerospace’s Board of Trustees has announced the formation of the CEO Search Subcommittee. This committee will lead the effort to find the next president and CEO for the corporation.
Austin’s scheduled retirement is consistent with Aerospace’s long-term succession planning objectives. In advance of Austin’s retirement, the CEO Search Subcommittee has been formed to begin the candidate search.
“The Aerospace Corporation is a critical government asset ensuring mission success and innovation in the national security space domain and other programs of national significance. We are seeking a diverse pool of qualified candidates for the next CEO, a person whose values and leadership will continue to enhance Aerospace’s value to the nation,” said board subcommittee chair Mike Donley, former Secretary of the United States Air Force.
The CEO Search Subcommittee is looking for candidates internal and external to the corporation. Austin had a 28-year career at Aerospace before becoming president and CEO. The previous two CEOs were external candidates. Dr. William Ballhaus was a Lockheed Martin executive before becoming Aerospace’s president and CEO in 2001. Edward “Pete” Aldridge was president of McDonnell Douglas and Secretary of the Air Force before becoming Aerospace’s president and CEO in 1992.
The CEO Search Subcommittee of the board includes: Donley as the chair and Gen. Kevin Chilton USAF (ret), Dan Hastings, and Anne Street as members. Advisors to the committee are Austin, Lt. Gen. George Muellner USAF (ret), and Jeff Smith. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Malissia Clinton is the management liaison.
The executive search firm, SpencerStuart has been obtained to assist CEO Search Subcommittee in finding the next president and CEO for Aerospace. Potential candidates may contact Jackie Arends at phone number: 202-741-8311 or email: jgarends@spencerstuart.com to submit a resume.
The Aerospace Corporation is a California nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center and has approximately 3,500 employees. It provides guidance and advice to military, civil, and commercial customers to ensure the success of complex, technology-based programs. The Aerospace Corporation is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., with multiple locations across the United States.
