EAA Makes It Official: Pelton Is CEO

Jack Pelton, who has guided the Experimental Aircraft Association as chairman since Rod Hightower stepped down as president and CEO in 2012, was formally named CEO in addition to his position of chairman. The EAA Board of Directors agreed to add the position, and to elect Charlie Precourt vice chairman, during its fall board meeting in Oshkosh on November 6.

“Jack has done a marvelous job as chairman and association leader on a volunteer basis after stepping into a challenging position three years ago,” said Dan Schwinn, chairman of the EAA board’s Human Resources and Governance Committee. “As his inaugural three-year term as chairman was ending and we were searching for a CEO for the organization, we realized that the qualities we were seeking in a CEO were exactly the qualities and background that Jack possesses.”

The CEO position will be paid, but the chairman post will continue to be voluntary. Pelton, the former chairman of Cessna, will maintain his residences in both Oshkosh and Wichita. In addition to Cessna, Pelton has served with Douglas Aircraft and Dornier Aircraft and has been actively engaged with both GAMA and NBAA.

Precourt, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion System Division, is stepping into a newly created position of vice chairman, providing additional leadership for the board. A four-time space shuttle mission astronaut and U.S. Air Force pilot, he has a background as an aircraft builder, has led EAA’s safety committee and writes for EAA’s Sport Aviation magazine.