American aircraft manufacturer Aerion has recruited executives and engineers from the aerospace industry as it prepares to bring its first supersonic aircraft to the market.

“We are absolutely dedicated to being a magnet for the world's greatest talent,” says chairman, president, and chief executive officer Tom Vice. “We're attracting amazing people to join our team; people who are passionate about working together to revolutionise the future of global mobility.”

Newly appointed vice president, business management, Cathy Rice will lead contracts, pricing and cost schedule management and facilitate business and programme management processes. She is the retired vice president, contract, pricing and programme business operations for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, where she was responsible for contracts, pricing and estimating, cost and schedule management, ITAR/Export and risk management disciplines. She brings 35 years of management experience in these areas, working on major programmes for the US Navy, Army and Air Force, including NATO international programmes..

Former Embraer Executive Jets senior vice president of customer support and services Scott Kalister is vice president, worldwide support and logistics. He is tasked with establishing a global support network for the AS2, as well as policies and procedures for creating a new standard in business aviation support. Kalister established the Embraer Executive Jets customer support organisation in 2001 and led it to top-ranked status. Previously, he served 23 years with Raytheon Aircraft Company, including as vice president of international sales, vice president of marketing and vice president of customer support..

Gene Holloway has been appointed vice president of Boomless Cruise and environmental responsibility. Holloway, who has led numerous advanced technology programmes over a 40-year career, heads efforts to develop and certify the world's first Boomless Cruise system, which will allow the Aerion AS2 to cruise at speeds up to Mach 1.2 without a sonic boom reaching the ground. He also leads efforts to explore and incorporate into Aerion aircraft advanced technologies for greater fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. He was a programme manager/project lead at Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (Skunk Works), and an engineering specialist at Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Former director of cockpit and subsystems Andrew Hellen will be leading an expanded team as vice president, cockpit and subsystems. He has served as an electrical and avionics engineer on a number of prominent programmes, including as senior engineer on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. At Gulfstream Aerospace, his responsibilities included design work on the G-650's fly-by-wire system. On the all-composite Learjet 85 programme he helped develop that aircraft's electrical wiring interconnect system and lightning strike protection system. The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo includes a complex communication system entirely of Hellen's own design. He has authored more than a dozen white papers that have helped mature the Aerion AS2 design.