June 10, 2015: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently named John Ortega vice president and general manager of its manufacturing facility in Mexicali, Mexico. Ortega replaced Randy Brown, now director of Advanced Aircraft Programs Operations in Savannah. Ortega reports to Greg Collett, vice president, Initial and Final Phase Operations.

Most recently, Ortega served as director, Composites/Sub-Assembly, in Savannah, where he oversaw operations that support production of Gulfstream large-cabin aircraft. In more than seven years at Gulfstream, Ortega has also been a senior manager in Sub-Assembly, Quality/Manufacturing Technologies and Quality Control.

“John has been a valuable member of the Operations organization since 2007,” said Collett. “His wealth of experience in people development and process improvement will help make a strong team in Mexicali even stronger.”

Mexicali, with more than 1,600 employees, makes wiring harnesses, sheet metal components, sub-assemblies and machined parts that are used in the manufacturing process. The site won the Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence in 2009 and was ranked 12th on Great Place to Work’s 2015 list of The Best Companies to Work in Mexico.

Prior to joining Gulfstream in 2007, Ortega worked for 10 years at General Electric in Atlanta and Schenectady, New York, in various management and operations positions.

He spent 10 years in the U.S. Navy as a pilot. Among the aircraft he flew were the Grumman A-6 Intruder and F-14 Tomcat.

Ortega earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Union College in Schenectady.