Aerion announced today that Executive Chairman and CEO Brian Barents is retiring. Barents will continue to serve on the Aerion board of directors.
Aerion's board of directors has elected Tom Vice to the position of chief executive officer and president, effective immediately. Vice assumes responsibility for all aspects of the leadership of Aerion Corporation, including its separate companies--Aerion Supersonic Corporation in Reno, Nevada, which is designing supersonic commercial aircraft, and Aerion Technologies Corporation, in Palo Alto, California specializing in advanced aerodynamics software. Vice continues to serve as a member of the Aerion board.
"Aerion has seen many changes since its inception and continues to evolve and grow in its pursuit of a supersonic revival," noted Chairman Robert Bass. "Today, I am reporting a smooth transition in leadership that keeps us firmly on a positive trajectory."
"Brian has made an enormous contribution in guiding our efforts since the beginning of Aerion in 2003, in recruiting the talents within the company, and also the major external partners we need to design and build the AS2," Bass continued. "I want to express my gratitude to Brian for his belief in Aerion, his leadership, and his friendship."
Tom Vice is the former president of Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. Previously, Vice served as president of Northrop Grumman Technical Services sector. Vice retired from Northrop Grumman following a 30-year career with the company.
Vice serves on the board of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, the board of councilors for USC's Viterbi School of Engineering, and the board of advisors for Purdue University's School of Astronautics and Aeronautics.
"I am confident that Tom will see the AS2 successfully launched into service and that he will create a flight path for follow-on aircraft that will maintain Aerion's leadership in the emerging supersonic segment," said Barents.
