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One of the most unusual businesses in space starts with a Cold War fighter jet. Starfighters Space operates the world’s only Mach 2+ commercial fleet—a handful of F-104 Starfighters flown by a small cadre of pilots. Could these aircraft help shape America’s future in space? The company recently went public, and I wanted to understand the business behind the speed. I sat down with CEO Tim Franta to discuss where space technology is heading, how companies fund their ambitions, and why he chose to take Starfighters Space public. We also explored how SpaceX has reshaped the industry—opening doors while making life harder for others. An unconventional company. A high-stakes market. And a fighter jet with another mission.   What You’ll Discover In This Episode  How one pilot turned a fleet of 60-year old jets into a space company Setting the world record for rate of climb Why many small space projects are now getting funded How inexpensive component testing can save $250 million satellites Where they find pilots in during a pilot shortage Why they’re building a ‘Wind Tunnel in the Sky’ Ripple effects of SpaceX and Blue Origin pulling out of ridesharing

AI is opening up new warfighting capabilities, but behind the scenes, the government is constrained by power, energy, and compute. What happens when the government has a problem that can’t be solved by writing checks?   Marc Murphy, CEO of Ignite Digital, joins me to share how AI is driving rapid change in the Department of War, including government procurement processes.    He points out that the administration has created new procurement onramps, “Five years ago, we wouldn't have dreamed of moving through a federal procurement in 15 days. They've created those processes that allow that to happen.”   What You’ll Discover In This Episode    How data overload can be handled by a key shift in thinking Why AI tools can’t be treated as ‘one-size-fits-all’ Where real warfighting priorities comes from How government is reaching into the commercial sector for better tech Procurement changes allowing mid-market companies to compete with large primes Where private equity and VC are heading in defense tech and dual-use tech How rapid prototyping and fast procurement processes can give the US an advantage in modern conflicts   About the Guest Marc Murphy is CEO and CGO of Ignite Digital. As an investor, operator and builder, he has more than 20 years of experience leading high-growth, results-focused technology companies. As CEO of SPARC, LLC, he led the company to its 2016 acquisition by Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH). He is a 2025 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and holds an active Top Secret security clearance.   Learn more about Ignite Digital at ignite-digital.com/ and connect with Marc on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcmurphy1/   About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.   Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

The GE Aerospace acquisition of CPP is in the news. But it’s not just defense tech that’s commanding massive multiples. Meghan Welch returns with her colleague, Hubert de la Vauvre, to share the latest on M&A in aerospace, defense and beyond. Their experience leading Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) has them working with clients on both buy and sell side.   They’re seeing  more companies related to missile systems, munitions, maritime or key programs commanding EBITDA multiple off of an earnings base a full year forward. Even instances of PE paying entirely in equity and then financing after the fact so they're not subject to financing contingencies.   Meghan calls what she’s seeing, “A bit of the wild, wild west…it's crazy.”   What You’ll Discover In This Episode    Why GE Aerospace paid 26x forward earnings for CPP The overlooked capability every strategic buyer wants right now How long-term agreements went from Holy Grail to handcuffs What Chromalloy reveals about the fight for manufacturing capacity Two high-growth markets in data centers…& which is a safer bet Converging trends that can help US manufacturers catch up Much, much more   About the Guests Meghan Welch is the Managing Director of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL). Hubert de la Vauvre is a Director and a senior member of BGL’s Metals & Advanced Metals Manufacturing and Industrial Automotive & Aftermarket investment banking teams.    GBL is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, capital markets, financial restructurings, valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. For more information, visit www.bglco.com or connect with Meghan or Hubert on LinkedIn.    About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

An American fighter goes down in hostile territory. Recovering the crew requires multiple aircraft, enormous resources, and putting even more lives at risk. What if an autonomous aircraft could fly into that same environment, extract the crew, and return without risking another pilot?   That's one of the possibilities Michael Cervenka, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer of Vertical Aerospace, is exploring.   Drones have limitations in range and payload. Helicopters are incredibly capable, but they're complex and expensive to operate and maintain. Vertical Aerospace sees an opportunity between the two.   With its Valo aircraft, Vertical is developing a common platform for electric, hybrid-electric, and eventually autonomous flight. The ambition goes well beyond flying passengers between cities. Think military logistics, personnel recovery, and missions where sending a conventional helicopter may be too expensive or too dangerous.   In this episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, Michael joins me to discuss how Vertical Aerospace is working to close the gap between drones and helicopters, what it will take to bring these aircraft into service, and why the future of eVTOL could be much bigger than the air-taxi market.   What You’ll Discover In This Episode    Why Vertical Aerospace survived the eVTOL hype cycle when others failed The critical decision that reduced risk and cleared a path to deployment How battery, hybrid and military variants all share one platform The supply chain decision that prevents being locked into outdated batteries How operating costs open new mission opportunities in electronic warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence Why they chose to work with operators rather than be an operator How unglamorous commercial uses are already driving 1,500 pre-orders   About the Guest Michael Cervenka is the Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. Senior business and engineering exec with over two decades‘ experience in aerospace and across a wide range of disruptive technologies.  Successfully incubated novel business concepts while building large global multi-disciplinary teams. Strategic agility and influence to set up and deliver significant business transformation. Strong business savvy with extensive commercial, customer and supplier experience.  Learn more at https://vertical-aerospace.com/ or connect with Michael on LinkedIn.    About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

Money isn’t the only thing flowing into aerospace from Silicon Valley.   So are the ideas, the methods and the mindset! Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, joins me to talk about one of the biggest challenges in aviation: reinventing the regional aircraft. Heart believes hybrid-electric propulsion can change the economics and possibilities of short-range commercial flight. And they’re not just talking about it…  they’re building it. The proof is in the X1 prototype. Anders and I discuss what it takes to turn next-generation technology into a practical, certifiable and commercially viable aircraft and why the future of aviation won’t be determined by technology alone.   We get into: Why hybrid-electric may be the practical path forward for regional aviation • What Heart is learning from the X1 • The enormous challenge of bringing new technology into a highly regulated industry • And how Silicon Valley thinking is shaping aerospace manufacturing and certification   About the Guest Dr. Anders Forslund, Founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, is an aerospace entrepreneur whose research at MIT on uncertainty & robustness in aircraft propulsion earned the Charles M. Manly Award in 2019. Previously, he founded ELISE, Sweden’s national electric aviation initiative. Learn more at https://www.heartaerospace.com/  or connect with Anders on LinkedIn.   About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.     For videos of the X1 including the first test flight, visit: https://www.heartaerospace.com/x1   Also check out these resources mentioned in the show:   Heart Aerospace YouTube channel   Heart Aerospace LinkedIn Page   Anders Forslund Y Combinator Interview:  The World’s Largest Electric Aircraft Just Flew

Defense is changing. Fast. For decades, weapons development was measured in years, sometimes decades. That model is being challenged. A new generation of defense-tech companies, backed by serious venture capital, is approaching the problem differently: Move fast. Build fast. Iterate fast. Mach Industries recently raised $300 million in Series C funding, valuing the company at $1.8 billion. But this is the number that caught my attention: 71 days. That’s how long it took Mach to take its Venom 3D-printed jet-powered unmanned aircraft from sketch to flight. Think about that. Just 71 days from an idea on paper to something flying through the air. This represents a much bigger shift taking place in defense: Asymmetric warfare. Low-cost. High-volume. Unmanned. Systems that can be developed quickly, manufactured at scale and deployed without the traditional timelines and economics of major weapons programs. But designing something quickly is one thing. Building thousands of them is another. Nathan Diller, President and CSO of Mach Industries, joins me on The Aerospace Executive Podcast to talk about what’s driving this transformation, how defense manufacturing has to change—and the enormous challenge of scaling this new generation of weapons systems. The defense industrial base is changing. And it’s happening quickly.   What You’ll Discover In This Episode  The near future arsenal of attack drones and munitions this defense tech startup is mass-producing for war Mach’s 4-part approach to building next gen unmanned platforms F-35 vs attack drones & where low-cost, high-volume wins on the battlefield Why PE and VC money is flowing to defense tech startups The pharma blueprint defense startups are following The surprising skillset his company can’t hire fast enough   About the Guest Nathan Diller is the President and Chief Strategy Officer of Mach Industries. Nathan previously served as CEO of Divergent. Learn more at https://machindustries.com/ or connect with Nathan on LinkedIn.   About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.    Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

In the defense industrial base, everyone knows the primes dominate the big programs, but that leaves a huge gap in the middle.  Startups don’t scale, the primes can’t move fast, and decades of consolidation have hollowed out the space in between. For years, everyone has recognized this gap, but no one has really solved it. The primes are getting bigger, the small innovators get attention but struggle to scale, and the middle tier keeps shrinking.  Meanwhile, the need for companies that can deliver speed, value, and scale has only grown more urgent. That’s starting to change. A new class of “next-gen primes” is emerging, companies that can think like small disruptors but deliver like established contractors. They’re leaner, faster, and built for the kind of problems the bigs won’t touch. One of the leaders of this movement is John Albers, retired Marine Colonel and now CEO of Albers Aerospace. After diving into entrepreneurship, he became a voracious student of business and started building what he calls a next-gen prime.  In less than a decade, he’s grown Albers Aerospace into a nine-site operation by combining organic growth, acquisitions, and a relentless focus on lean execution and leadership development. In this special replay episode, John shares how Albers Aerospace is reshaping the defense industrial base, what it really takes to scale in this space, and why leadership culture, not technology alone, drives speed and impact.   You’ll also learn; How Albers Aerospace scaled from a one-man shop to 9 sites through a mix of organic growth and acquisitions Why humility and getting your “rear end kicked” is often the most important leadership lesson How over-consolidation at the top has created a roll-up opportunity for mid-tier defense companies Why financial literacy and leadership training are as important as operations in a fast-growing business Why speed, lean execution, and value, not allowable costs, win contracts in today’s environment How John thinks about building impact for the warfighter and the industrial base, not just chasing dollars     Guest Bio John Albers is the founder and CEO of Albers Aerospace, a Dallas-area defense and aerospace company organized into three business units. Since its founding in 2015, Albers Aerospace has grown rapidly through acquisitions and organic expansion, delivering innovative products and services to today’s warfighter. A retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel with 24 years of active duty, John served as a fleet pilot, flight instructor, and developmental test pilot. As an entrepreneur and senior executive, John brings more than 35 years of leadership and operational experience across defense acquisition and private industry. He thrives in fast-paced environments, excels at building and aligning teams, and is deeply committed to developing people while driving organizational growth. Visit https://www.albers.aero/ and connect with John on LinkedIn.      About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!    For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

“The AI data center build-out is already the biggest infrastructure project, inflation-adjusted, that we've ever undertaken as a society.”  That’s Sebastian Schaal, co-founder and Managing Director of Luminovo, an AI software company specializing in electronics supply chain management. I wanted to talk to Sebastian about how executives respond when key components are seeing 20X the demand of pre-2022 levels.   What You’ll Discover In This Episode  How 20-year old electronics have become a hidden risk for aerospace and defense companies How AI data centers are disrupting your electronics supply chain The model VC’s pushed him to build…and what he built instead Leadership lessons from building a team of 100+ Why Sebastian turned down more VC money (and who’s funding him now)   About the Guest Sebastian Schaal is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Luminovo, an AI software company that aims to turn electronics supply chain into a competitive advantage. He is also the Revenue department lead, overseeing and aligning activities across Growth, Sales, Customer Success and Revenue Operations. Connect with Sebastian on LinkedIn or sign up for the Luminovo newsletter.   About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

The transition from being a rockstar in your vertical to leading at the C-suite level is one of the hardest jumps in modern business.  Not because you aren’t capable, but because the job changes faster than anyone prepares you for, and the timeline to become effective has collapsed from years to months. You used to have a multi-year runway to listen, learn, and settle in. Now the proving ground has accelerated, and you’re expected to think enterprise-wide, set direction, shape culture, and operate with conviction almost immediately. And that’s where so many leaders get blindsided. They step into the role with deep expertise, strong track records, and every intention of succeeding. But they quickly discover that the behaviors that powered their rise don’t automatically translate to the top job.  The stakes are higher, the scrutiny is sharper, and the margin for a slow learning curve is gone. Boards, investors, and teams are already forming judgments before you’ve even taken your seat. And without realizing it, new executives find themselves operating on outdated instincts in a completely different environment. Bill Koch is a former CEO who now coaches leaders navigating some of the most high-pressure environments. He helps new CEOs compress the transition, build real executive presence, and operate with clarity and confidence. In this episode, we talk about how to accelerate that transition, how to understand how you’re actually being perceived, and how to adapt fast enough to avoid losing ground in your first critical months.   You’ll also learn; Why the jump from functional mastery to C-suite leadership is so challenging How the timeline for becoming effective has collapsed, and what that means for new executives. The behaviors that helped you rise and why they can quietly derail you in a senior role. How to understand the difference between vertical thinking and enterprise thinking. Why a 360 assessment is often the first real mirror a new executive has ever seen. How boards and teams perceive you long before you think they do Why private equity environments expose leadership weaknesses faster than any other setting. How to cultivate executive presence that signals quiet confidence, not overcompensation. The importance of building a “personal boardroom” to think clearly under pressure.     Guest Bio Bill Koch is an executive coach with more than 25 years of C-suite and senior leadership experience across public companies, private enterprises, and private equity–backed firms. A former CEO himself, Bill brings a rare blend of operational depth, boardroom insight, and executive maturity to his coaching practice. His work centers on one mission: helping high performers become highly effective enterprise leaders. For more than a decade, Bill has served as a trusted advisor to CEOs and senior executives navigating high-pressure, high-visibility roles. He coaches leaders across Fortune 500 companies, growth-stage organizations, and academic institutions—guiding them through pivotal transitions, accelerated timelines, and complex leadership challenges. His clients turn to him to gain clarity, sharpen judgment, and build the confident executive presence required to lead at the top. Bill’s clients include American Express, Apple, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, John Deere, Mars, MGM, McKesson, Toyota, and others. To learn more, visit https://www.kochleadership.com/ or read Bill’s latest insights on Forbes.  About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.      Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm, so our show reaches more people. Thank you!

Most people think the aerospace supply chain is crawling back to normal after the pandemic. But that’s not what’s happening. The industry is scaling in a permanently elevated demand environment. Commercial aviation is rebuilding. Defense budgets are structurally higher. New platforms like EVTOL, drones, hypersonics, and space are moving into production. This isn’t a strain; it’s a structural transformation. And in a world obsessed with engines and airframes, the real leverage sits in the smallest parts. At the same time, complexity is rising. Aircraft are lighter, more electronic, and more integrated. Tolerances are tighter, and the margin for error is gone. This is where FDH Aero comes in: distribution reimagined as a strategic capability. In a high-velocity, high-complexity market, reliability becomes a strategy. How is FDH embedding itself within OEM production lines while operating under private-equity intensity? And what kind of leadership does that require? In this special replay episode, I’m joined by the CEO of FDH Aero, Ian Walsh.  We unpack how FDH Aero scaled to a billion dollars by mastering the parts that make flight possible. We also discuss why the next decade of aerospace growth may be less about building more airplanes and more about controlling the hardware layer beneath them. You’ll also learn: Why aerospace supply chains aren’t “recovering”; they’re structurally transforming How a single missing bolt can shut down a billion-dollar production line Why distribution is becoming a strategic layer, not just a transactional one The difference between organic growth and inorganic scale in a fragmented supply base How private equity is accelerating consolidation in aerospace and defense Why value creation in PE is about process discipline, not short-term spikes The leadership shift required when moving from public OEMs to PE-backed companies Why smaller, lighter, more electronic platforms will reshape parts demand Where the real upside sits: commercial, defense, business aviation, or emerging platforms How embedding into product development cycles creates long-term supply chain “stickiness.” The mindset difference between statistical improvement and “luck wrapped in chaos.”   About the Guest Ian Walsh is the CEO of FDH Aero. He brings over 35 years of executive leadership across the U.S. Marine Corps, commercial and general aviation, defense, and industrial end markets to FDH. Most recently, Walsh served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Kaman Aerospace Corporation, a provider of highly engineered components and subsystems to commercial aviation, aerospace, defense, and medical end-markets. At Kaman, Walsh led the evolution of the global company into customer-centric operating segments. Before that, Walsh was COO at REV Group, Inc., a provider of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts, and spent more than 15 years in operational and P&L leadership at Textron, Inc. At both companies, Walsh drove new product development and process optimization. Earlier in his career, he served as an officer and naval aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps with combat tours in Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt in operations and continuous improvement. Connect with Ian on LinkedIn.    About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers. Since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

What is the minimum level of leadership an aerospace company needs to survive constant change? Because technical excellence is not enough anymore. Aerospace and aviation companies are being pushed to move faster, scale highly specialized teams, cut through bureaucracy, and make decisions before every variable is known. But many are still promoting great engineers, operators, and technical specialists into management with almost no preparation for the job they are actually being asked to do. Then leadership wonders why information gets trapped, accountability disappears, teams slow down, and high performers burn out. That is the problem behind Matt Gjertsen’s concept of the Minimum Viable Manager. The name sounds modest. The standard is not. At a minimum, managers need to know how to build trust, set clear expectations, and give useful feedback. Without those fundamentals, all the talk about innovation, speed, ownership, and high performance is just noise. You cannot scale technical capability if the people leading it do not know how to align a team, push performance, or create the conditions for others to succeed. And this matters because the aerospace companies pulling ahead are not just hiring better talent. They are building cultures that can move.  In this episode, I sit down with Matt, author of The Minimum Viable Manager and former Head of Training and Development at SpaceX. We talk about what aerospace companies can learn from SpaceX about hierarchy, ownership, and execution, and why technical expertise does not automatically produce strong leaders. We also discuss why companies that fail to develop managers alongside their workforce will eventually hit a wall.   What You’ll Discover In This Episode  Why aerospace companies need a practical definition of effective management How trust, clear expectations, and useful feedback support technical team performance Why strong engineers and operators often struggle when they move into management What SpaceX can teach aerospace leaders about hierarchy, ownership, and execution Why fast-moving companies organize work around outcomes rather than inherited processes How leaders can push technical teams beyond their comfort zones without creating burnout Why responsibility must be accompanied by the authority to make decisions What separates aerospace companies adapting to change from those slowed by bureaucracy Why scaling the industry’s technical workforce also requires developing capable managers   About the Guest Matt Gjertsen is the founder of Built Leaders and the author of The Minimum Viable Manager. A former SpaceX learning and development leader, Air Force pilot, speaker, facilitator, and trainer, Matt helps innovative hard-tech companies build leaders capable of guiding teams through complex, high-stakes challenges. Through Built Leaders, he works with aerospace, defense, and energy companies to identify the leadership issues limiting team performance and develop practical, behavior-focused solutions. Over the past four years, his programs have trained hundreds of leaders across more than a dozen organizations. Connect with Matt on LinkedIn, visit https://www.amazon.com/Minimum-Viable-Manager-Essential-Technical/dp/1774587270/ref=sr_1_1 to grab a copy of Matt's new book.   About Your Host   Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF-trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

The aerospace supply chain does not only break at final assembly. Some of the most important pressure points sit much farther upstream, inside the specialized materials businesses; most of the industry only notices when something goes wrong. High-purity aluminum, specialty alloys, casting capacity, hedging, tariffs, geopolitical risk, and long-cycle inventory decisions all shape whether commercial aviation, defense, and space can keep moving.  When demand rises or supply gets disrupted, companies like Vista Metals have to make decisions long before the rest of the market feels the impact. In this episode, I talk with Kelly Thomas, CEO of Vista Metals Group, about the hidden risks inside the aerospace materials supply chain and what it takes to lead a business where capacity, capital, talent, and timing all have to line up before the market is ready. What You’ll Discover In This Episode  Why high-purity aluminum has become a critical supply chain issue for aerospace manufacturersHow tariffs, geopolitical risk, and smelter disruptions affect companies far upstream in the supply chain Why hedging can be a make-or-break discipline for companies carrying long-cycle metal inventory How privately held aerospace suppliers can make long-term investments differently from public companies Why Vista Metals has focused on hard alloys, specialty casting, and niche aerospace applications How commercial aviation, defense, and space demand are shaping Vista’s growth outlook Why smaller and privately owned companies often carry supply chain risk that the broader industry may underestimate What leaders need to understand about moving from a large public company environment into a smaller, operator-led business How Kelly Thomas thinks about leadership, feedback, communication, and building a no-politics culture Why sitting in uncertainty may be one of the most important leadership skills in a volatile aerospace market About the Guest Kelly Thomas is the President and CEO of Vista Metals, the world’s largest independent producer of specialty aluminum products for the aerospace, defense, transportation, and industrial sectors. A globally experienced executive with more than two decades in metals and manufacturing, Kelly has built her career at the intersection of finance, operations, commercial strategy, and industrial leadership. She brings deep expertise in global metals markets, risk management, and complex manufacturing environments, along with a values-driven leadership style focused on performance, innovation, and long-term growth. Before joining Vista Metals, Kelly held senior leadership roles at Alcoa and Aleris, where she helped drive global strategy, manage multi-billion-dollar operations, and lead large teams across North America and Europe through periods of transformation and growth.   About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF-trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/.  To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

Private equity is no longer a small corner of the market that only dealmakers, investors, and portfolio executives need to understand. It is becoming one of the defining forces in business. More industries are being consolidated. More founder-led companies are being acquired. More executives are being recruited into PE-backed environments. And more leaders are finding themselves operating under a very different set of expectations, timelines, pressures, and performance standards than the ones they were trained for. That means the old “private equity is not my world” mindset is getting harder to maintain. You may sell your company to private equity. You may go work for a PE-backed business. You may be hired to lead one. Either way, it is becoming increasingly important to understand what this environment actually requires. Because private equity is not just a financial model. It is an operating environment. And in that environment, leadership gets tested quickly. The old playbook of buying a business, adding leverage, cutting costs, and exiting quickly is no longer enough. In today’s market, value has to be built. Leaders have to move fast without breaking the business. Founders have to navigate the shift from owner to employee. Boards have to apply pressure without creating misalignment. And executives have to prove they can create measurable results without relying on the systems, resources, and support structures they may have had in larger companies. In this episode, I’m joined by Maxwell Salazar, founder of Salazar Leadership Advisory. We talk about what private equity is really demanding from leaders today, what it takes to succeed in a PE-backed environment, why traditional executive hiring signals can be misleading, and how founders, boards, and operators should think about leadership in a market where private equity is no longer the exception; it is becoming part of the business landscape. What You’ll Discover In This Episode Why private equity is becoming a reality founders, executives, advisors, and operators need to understand How PE-backed environments differ from traditional corporate leadership roles Why the old private equity playbook of leverage, cost-cutting, and quick exits is no longer enough What leaders need to understand before stepping into a PE-backed company Why self-awareness, adaptability, and accountability matter so much under private equity pressure How founders can struggle with the shift from owner to employee after a transaction Why founder transitions are often emotional and psychological, not just operational How leaders can move quickly without triggering resistance inside the business Why boards need to be clear about the mandate before hiring a CEO, COO, CFO, or CRO What companies should actually assess for when choosing leaders for PE-backed environments Why prior PE experience, impressive logos, or successful exits can create false confidence How to tell the difference between someone who managed inside a system and someone who can build in a more ambiguous environment Why the best PE-backed leader may not always be the most charismatic or obvious candidate How board dynamics can either support an operator or make the role harder than it needs to be Why private equity can be one of the best environments for leadership growth, but only for people who understand the pressure, pace, and trade-offs involved.   About the Guest Maxwell Salazar is the founder of Salazar Leadership Advisory, where he helps private equity firms make better leadership decisions across their portfolio companies. A business psychologist by training, Maxwell evaluates C-suite leaders, surfaces culture and execution risk, and helps investors understand whether the people they are hiring are equipped to lead through pressure, ambiguity, board scrutiny, and operational change. Before launching his advisory practice, Maxwell served as Head of Executive Assessment at AlixPartners, advising clients across hedge funds, investment banks, and PE-backed companies ranging from $100 million businesses to multibillion-dollar enterprises. In his work, Maxwell focuses on the human side of value creation: how leaders perform when the market shifts, the strategy meets resistance, or the boardroom pressure starts to rise. He helps investors and leadership teams look beyond pedigree, charisma, and past titles to better understand self-awareness, accountability, adaptability, culture fit, and the trade-offs that determine whether an executive can succeed in a private equity-backed environment. Connect with Maxwell on LinkedIn.     About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.   Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/. To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

Private aviation is no longer serving the same buyer, the same use case, or the same expectation set that it was built around twenty years ago. The old assumption was simple: private aviation was mainly for the already-initiated: aircraft owners, experienced charter users, corporate flight departments, or people who already understood the difference between aircraft categories, operating models, and access options. That market still exists, but a new buyer is entering the industry with a very different set of questions. They are wealthier, often younger, more digitally fluent, more time-sensitive, and in many cases completely new to private aviation. That is where the jet card model becomes more than a product. It becomes a bridge between commercial aviation frustration, fractional ownership, charter, corporate flying, and the growing demand for flexible, predictable private aviation access. In this episode, I’m joined by the CEO of Sentient Jet, Alan Walsh. We discuss how one of the original jet card companies is adapting to a changing private aviation market. We talk about how Sentient is thinking about AI, digital transformation, changing demographics, 135 lift, sustainability, World Cup demand, aircraft preferences, and why the future of private aviation may be less about luxury and more about utility, access, and time. What You’ll Discover In This Episode Why the jet card model remains attractive for new entrants who want private aviation access without aircraft ownership or long-term asset commitment How Sentient Jet is balancing digital convenience with a high-touch service model that still depends on human relationships Why Alan Walsh sees AI as an operational efficiency tool, not a replacement for client-facing service How private aviation demand is being shaped by commercial aviation disruption, reduced regional routes, and the need for better time control Why new private aviation users often need education before they need a sales pitch How changing wealth demographics are bringing younger, more digitally native buyers into the market Why bigger, newer, longer-range aircraft remain in demand and what that means for operators and aircraft availability How major events like the World Cup create sustained, multi-leg private aviation demand across several weeks Why sustainability is becoming a more visible consideration for private aviation customers What the industry may look like as technology, vertical integration, and more individualized access models continue to evolve     About the Guest Alan Walsh is the President of Sentient Jet, where he is responsible for the overall growth, innovation, and success of the business. He has led the development and transformation of Sentient’s service organization while also helping shape the future of Owner Services at Flexjet. Alan has spent his career at the intersection of customer success, strategy, and client experience. He brings a customer-centric mindset and a strong track record of driving large-scale business, operational, and digital transformation across growth, M&A, turnaround, and AI-enabled strategy. Known for building high-performing teams and using data to improve customer outcomes, Alan brings a strategic view of how private aviation is evolving, from changing customer expectations and digital access to service consistency, safety, and the continued role of the jet card model in the market. Connect with Alan on LinkedIn.   About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.   Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/. To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.

Business aviation has spent decades climbing the same performance ladder: more range, more speed, larger cabins, better engines, better avionics, and more capable aircraft. That evolution created the modern business jet market and pushed the high end into a category that would have been difficult to imagine when the first purpose-built business aircraft entered service. But the next era may not be defined by simply building a bigger airplane. With aircraft like the G800, Global 8000, and Falcon 10X, the upper end of the market is already approaching the practical limits of range, cabin size, and price. Supersonic business aviation remains difficult. New air vehicle concepts may be promising, but business aviation has historically prioritized performance, reliability, and mission utility over radical experimentation. That raises a more important question for business aviation leaders: where does meaningful differentiation come from next? In this episode, I continue the conversation with Kevin Michaels and Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory about Time Machines: Business Aviation’s Dynamic Journey. This second part looks at the future of the market: why the high end keeps marching upward, why the medium-cabin segment may need a new catalyst, how post-COVID usage patterns are changing ownership and operating models, and why the aircraft may increasingly be judged by what it enables onboard. What You’ll Discover In This Episode Why the ultra-long-range business jet market has continued to expand, even when many people once doubted there would be room for multiple players at the high end. How the G800, Global 8000, and Falcon 10X reflect the continued march toward larger, more capable, and more expensive business aircraft. Why business aviation may be approaching a point where range, speed, and cabin size are no longer enough to create meaningful differentiation. How onboard connectivity, virtual workspaces, interiors, avionics, and human-machine interface may become more important to the next era of business aircraft. Why radically new air vehicle concepts may be harder to justify in a market that has historically prioritized performance and mission utility over fuel-efficiency-led experimentation. What the continued rise of ultra-high-net-worth demand reveals about the top end of the business aviation market. Why the medium-cabin and “workaday” jet market may need a new catalyst as the high end keeps pulling away. How business aviation usage has changed since COVID, including the shift away from traditional ownership and toward fractional, managed aircraft, and Part 135 models. Why “business aviation as a service” may become a more important way to understand the market’s next phase. What leaders should watch as aircraft performance, ownership models, customer expectations, and onboard experience begin to define the next chapter of business aviation.   About the Guests Richard Aboulafia is a Managing Director at AeroDynamic Advisory, a boutique aerospace and defense management consultancy based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also a Special Advisor on Aerospace & Defense at Eurasia Group and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Since 1988, Richard has tracked aircraft programs, markets, and companies as an analyst and consultant, advising aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, and financial institutions on commercial aviation, military aviation, and broader aerospace and defense market trends. Before joining AeroDynamic Advisory in 2022, he was Vice President of Analysis at Teal Group. Richard is also a widely published aviation and defense writer, with regular columns in Aviation Week & Space Technology and work appearing in outlets including Foreign Policy, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, Professional Pilot, and others. He is the co-author, with Kevin Michaels, of Time Machines: Business Aviation’s Dynamic Journey, a comprehensive look at the people, aircraft, technologies, business models, and market forces that shaped business aviation into the industry it is today. Connect with Richard on LinkedIn. Kevin Michaels is a Managing Director at AeroDynamic Advisory and a globally recognized expert in aerospace manufacturing, MRO, strategy, customer satisfaction, M&A advisory, technology assessment, and market analysis. Across his career, Kevin has advised leading aerospace OEMs, airlines, MRO providers, suppliers, and investors on the strategic and operational forces shaping the aerospace industry. Before AeroDynamic Advisory, he was Vice President in ICF International’s Aerospace & MRO consulting practice and co-founder of AeroStrategy, which was acquired by ICF. He also held roles with Rockwell Collins Government Systems, The Canaan Group, and aero-engine supplier Williams International. Kevin is a columnist for Aviation Week & Space Technology’s Up Front feature, a contributing columnist to Inside MRO and Forbes, and chairs the Industry Advisory Board for the University of Michigan’s Aerospace Engineering Department. He is also the author of AeroDynamic: Inside the High-Stakes Global Jetliner Ecosystem, winner of the 2019 Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn. Buy the book Time Machines: Business Aviation’s Dynamic Journey on Amazon.   About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker, and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers, and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.   Resources For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/. To learn more about Craig Picken, visit https://craigpicken.com/.