In aerospace and defense, every breakthrough is built on material science.

From the alloys powering jet engines to the composites shielding spacecraft, innovation isn’t just about design—it’s about what the machines are made of. 

Yet the way we discover and scale new materials hasn’t meaningfully changed in more than a century.

Research cycles drag on for decades, costs skyrocket, and supply chains remain fragile. 

Meanwhile, other nations have poured resources into material science—developing advanced alloys, stockpiling rare earths, and in many ways, weaponizing the periodic table.

That leaves the U.S. and its allies with a hard question: how do you compete with adversaries accelerating discovery while you’re trapped in outdated cycles? The future of hypersonics, space defense, and even energy security depends on faster, smarter breakthroughs in material science.

That’s where Joe Krause and Radical AI come in. The New York–based startup is combining AI, autonomy, and materials expertise to compress R&D timelines from years to weeks—and slash costs along the way.

In this episode, Joe shares how a cold call to a VC led to the founding of Radical AI, why aerospace innovation is fundamentally a materials problem, and what’s at stake in a world where control of supply chains may decide the balance of power.

You’ll learn:

Guest Bio

Joe Krause is the co-founder and CEO of Radical AI. Radical AI is reinventing the way materials science is done and designing new materials for the world’s needs. Harnessing the most advanced AI discovery engine and full-scale laboratory automation, they’re pioneering a bold new era of innovation, accelerating the development of materials that transform human development. Radical AI is made up of a world-class group of materials scientists, physicists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Visit https://www.radical-ai.com/, email [email protected], or connect with him 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! 

In aviation, the most transformative breakthroughs often take place far above the commercial flight lanes, and far below the public radar. 

But in today’s defense and aerospace economy, those breakthroughs are harder than ever for small companies to bring to life. 

Government budgets overwhelmingly favor the largest primes. Smaller, more agile innovators are forced to bankroll their own R&D while competing against firms with deeper pockets, stronger political clout, and guaranteed contracts. 

Venture-style “build-to-flip” incentives tempt some to chase quick exits over long-term quality. Even when technology works, commercial adoption can stall as customers demand bespoke designs for each use case.

Swift Engineering’s record-breaking high-altitude glider is one such breakthrough fighting its way through that gauntlet. 

Designed to fly at 67,000 feet for days at a time, this ultra-light, solar-powered aircraft can do what satellites can’t: hold a fixed position, deliver real-time intelligence, and land on a runway. At just 1% of the cost.

For Hamed Khalkhali, Swift’s president, the innovation story isn’t just about engineering excellence. It’s about surviving and thriving in a system that often seems built for incumbents. 

In this conversation, he unpacks the strategic, funding, and talent challenges that determine which companies survive in the next wave of aerospace innovation.

You’ll also learn:

Guest Bio

Hamed Khalkhali is the President of Swift Engineering and an adjunct professor at Cal Poly Pomona, with more than 25 years of experience spanning technical innovation, leadership, and cross-disciplinary communication. He brings over a decade of expertise in system-level design for Fly-by-Wire flight control systems with the highest safety standards (FDAL-A), along with deep knowledge of ARP-4752, DO-160, and DO-178 certification processes. Throughout his career, Hamed has led high-performance engineering organizations, managing teams across mechanical, electrical, verification and validation, manufacturing, AI, machine learning, quality control, supply chain, and R&D. He is known for integrating manufacturing engineering into the earliest stages of design, optimizing products through rigorous processes such as Six Sigma, Lean, Kaizen, and design-for-manufacturability. His leadership approach blends technical precision with a focus on systems integration, efficiency, and innovation in both aerospace and defense. Connect with Hamed 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! 

As AI continues to reshape everything from medicine to flight decks, the question isn’t whether it’s coming to your organization; it’s whether leaders are ready for it. 

The future belongs to executives who can blend critical thinking with adaptive leadership, who can shed old assumptions and operate ahead of the curve. 

According to psychologist and organizational strategist Eric Olson, the most crucial skill for tomorrow’s leaders is resilience rooted in clarity, connection, and courageous action.

What’s driving this leadership revolution isn’t just digital disruption; it’s cognitive disruption.

Across industries, AI is exposing the limits of traditional thinking and highlighting the cost of bias, rigidity, and ego-driven leadership. In this high-stakes environment, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and mission-first thinking are no longer soft skills; they’re survival tools.

Eric Olson, PhD, is the founder of EMO Advisors and a trusted advisor to leaders at Microsoft, Hawaiian Airlines, Ford, and Spirit Airlines. In this episode, we unpack the emerging playbook for 21st-century leadership, from the cockpit to the boardroom. 

You’ll hear how elite teams regulate for excellence, and what over 1,000 pilots revealed about what makes teams thrive under pressure. 

You’ll also learn:

Guest Bio

Eric Olson, PhD, is the founder of EMO Advisors. He develops leaders and management teams to improve business performance through a growth mindset. He builds resilience with senior teams using strategic planning offsites, culture change, innovation labs, team coaching, and other methods. Eric’s client list includes Microsoft, Hawaiian Airlines, Ford, GitHub, IBM, The Coca-Cola Company, Disney, and Novartis, among many others. He works in the digital transformation space (Cloud + AI, mixed reality, engineering, UX, devices, etc.). Eric coaches leaders to build highly engaging cultures through a blend of financial, organizational, and psychological insights. Connect with Eric 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! 

Commercial aviation is booming, but not for the reasons you'd expect.

While the media fixates on tariffs, inflation, and geopolitical risks, industry insiders are seeing a very different picture. Airline profits are up, demand is strong, and aircraft backlogs are stretching eight years into the future.

But underneath the optimism is something more nuanced: a market defined by high-cost inputs, a scramble for qualified labor, and a reshuffling of what counts as “value” in M&A.

In this episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, M&A specialist Bill Alderman returns for his quarterly check-in on the state of the aerospace and defense sector. 

We unpack the surprising resilience of commercial aviation, why job shops are suddenly hot properties, and the real reasons behind rising multiples in the MRO and manufacturing space.

Key Topics Covered:

Guest Bio

William H. Alderman (Bill) is the Founding Partner of Alderman & Company. Bill is an M&A specialist in the middle market of the aerospace and defense industry with over $2 billion in mergers and acquisition-related transactions to his name. Prior to founding Alderman & Company in 2001, Bill worked for 15 years on Wall Street and in the Aerospace & Defense Industry, principally on M&A transactions in the middle market. His employers included BT Securities, Fieldstone, and General Electric. Bill is a Securities Principal registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and has four securities industry licenses (Series 7, 24, 63, and 65). Bill is a commercial pilot and owns and operates a Cirrus SR22.

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! 

The new space race is beginning; It’s not just between nations, but between commercial giants, shadow governments, and emerging players staking claims to orbits that are becoming dangerously crowded. The world is entering an era where control of the orbits will define global power.

What’s fueling this revolution isn’t just rocket science. It’s economic scale, exotic propellants, and a surge in miniaturized, high-functioning satellites. But with this explosion comes risk: orbital debris fields, collisions that could cripple constellations, and the looming specter of space warfare. 

Join Tory Bruno, CEO of United Launch Alliance, the man behind one of the most ambitious launch companies, and me on this episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, Tory bring unparalleled insight into what’s next in space - from transforming ULA away from use of Russian engines to pioneering modular rockets designed for both commercial and defense missions, he has done it all!

We cover the radical shifts reshaping orbital real estate, why small launch companies are failing despite demand, and why directed energy weapons in space might be the future of global defense.

You’ll also learn:

Guest Bio

Tory Bruno is the President and CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA), the largest rocket launch company in the world. Since taking the helm in August 2014, he has led ULA through a transformative era, retiring legacy systems, developing the next-generation Vulcan rocket, and expanding the company’s commercial and national security portfolio. Before ULA, Tory spent over three decades at Lockheed Martin, where he began his career as a propulsion engineer and steadily rose through the ranks to become a senior executive. He has deep expertise in advanced propulsion, hypersonics, missile defense, and launch systems, and is widely recognized as one of the aerospace industry’s most accomplished and forward-thinking leaders. Connect with Tory 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! 

A fully loaded airliner lined up to land on a taxiway where four fuel-packed jets were waiting to depart. A catastrophic crash was avoided—by just 59 feet.

What caused the near-miss? Not a single pilot’s error, but a systemic breakdown: fatigue, communication failures, flawed assumptions, and organizational complacency.

In this episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, I’m joined by Eckhard Jann—former airline captain, aviation safety investigator, and best-selling author of Error One. With over 30 years of experience across airlines, healthcare systems, and global safety organizations, Eckhard shares how accidents are almost always set in motion long before anything "goes wrong."

What actually causes disasters? How do we get better at spotting the first domino before it falls? 

Eckhard shares why “blame the individual” is the most dangerous mindset of all, and how single-plane operators can up their safety management. 

You’ll learn:

Guest Bio

Eckhard Jann is an author, speaker, pilot, and business consultant, and error management and error culture expert. With over 15 years of experience as a business consultant and more than 35 years in commercial aviation, he brings in-depth expertise in safety and crisis management. In his current role, he supports organizations in implementing robust error management systems and fostering a safety culture that minimizes risks and enhances operational excellence. Eckhard’s goal is to enable sustainable improvements through strategic consulting and proven practices in error management. Drawing on his experience as a pilot and safety manager, he provides teams with practical solutions that have proven effective in aviation. To get a discount on Eckhard’s Investigation Training in September 2025, visit aviationinvestigation.com and use code AEP25.  

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! 

Today’s defense landscape is chaotic and fast-moving. Drones, AI, autonomy, and cyber threats are reshaping how wars are fought…and how the Pentagon spends. 

For companies and CEOs, the barrier to entry has never been lower. Any startup with a pitch deck and some funding can say they're in “defense.” But actually succeeding in this market? That’s never been harder.

Small businesses get lost in red tape, big businesses lose their edge chasing shiny objects. Most companies looking to break into the defense space still pitch like it’s 2005, leading with tech specs, chasing every shiny RFP, and assuming that great engineering sells itself. It doesn’t…not in today’s environment.

So what’s the right strategy in this market? How do companies set themselves up to win? 

In this episode, I sit down with Gemo Yesil, founder and managing partner of Bastion Atlas, to unpack why so many well-funded startups, savvy CEOs, and legacy contractors are falling flat, and what it really takes to win in today’s high-stakes, high-complexity market.

Gemo knows the DoD world inside and out. An MIT-trained aerospace engineer, Air Force veteran, and founder of a fast-scaling fractional BD firm, he’s seen firsthand how companies of all sizes struggle with the same fundamental issue: a lack of clear, executable strategy.

Gemo explains how defense acquisition has evolved from lumbering legacy programs to fast-moving, software-driven warfare. He shares why the real differentiator today isn’t tech specs or connections, it’s clarity: about your market, your business model, and what “good” defense revenue actually looks like.

You’ll also learn:

Guest Bio

Gemo Yesil is a combat veteran, aerospace engineer and founder and principal at Bastion Atlas. He is a Global Defense Business Development executive with 20 years of experience, and a dual-rated U.S. Air Force pilot, who has flown Combat Rescue helicopters and Tactical Airlift jets in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and South America.

After managing Fortune 500 engineering teams on multiple $2B+ programs at Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin and scaling his EdTech startup nationally, Gemo has served as CMC Electronics' Global Sales & Strategy Director, Gecko Robotics' Head of Defense Business Development, and HABCO Industries’ VP of Sales & Marketing. He launched Bastion Atlas in 2024 to assemble a team of revenue growth experts and scale their impact across the global Aerospace & Defense industry. Gemo remains proudly connected to his alma mater (MIT), retains an active security clearance, and — as a personal passion — continues to manage national STEM Education initiatives. To learn more, visit https://www.bastionatlas.com/ and connect with Gemo in 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! 

Planes scooping water from lakes. Crews flying into firestorms. Mechanics maintaining aircraft in warzone-like conditions. 

It sounds like a military operation, because in many ways, it is.

As wildfires grow more frequent, more destructive, and more deadly, the national spotlight is turning to one of the most critical and overlooked fronts in disaster response: aerial firefighting. 

Events like the Lahaina fire and the Palisades blaze have shown just how high the stakes are and how essential rapid, airborne intervention has become in saving lives, homes, and ecosystems.

Bridger Aerospace sits at the center of this transformation. With a mission rooted in military discipline and public service, the company combines aviation, emergency response, and cutting-edge technology in a way few others can.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Davis, CEO of Bridger Aerospace, operator of the largest private fleet of CL-415 “Super Scoopers” in the U.S. 

Sam opens up about what it’s really like to run a year-round, 200-person aviation operation with aircraft flying low over burning terrain across the country. 

From supply chain crunches to political backlash, it’s a raw look inside one of the most demanding jobs in aviation today.

We also talk about how Bridger Aerospace is pioneering wildfire response using military-grade sensors, early detection aircraft, and a culture of service that rivals special ops.

You’ll learn:

Guest Bio

Sam Davis is the CEO of Bridger Aerospace. Bridger Aerospace is an aerial firefighting and aerospace services company based in Belgrade, Montana, located at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN). It was founded in 2014 to support frontline firefighters with world-leading technology and aerial fire suppression systems. Since its inception, the company has grown from operating a single plane to commanding a significant Air Attack fleet, the most modern fire imaging and surveillance aircraft, and the world’s largest private Super Scooper fleet. Sam is integral in facilitating revenue growth, implementing operational efficiency, and executing strategic initiatives to expand services and global footprint. Visit https://bridgeraerospace.com/ and connect with Sam 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! 

Drones flying over Air Force bases. Unidentified aerial systems evading detection. A homeland vulnerable to $1,000 weapons while billion-dollar jets sit powerless.

It’s not the plot of a futuristic war movie. It’s the uncomfortable reality facing U.S. defense leaders today.

In this episode, I’m joined by retired four-star General and former Commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and NORAD, Glen VanHerck. This is an unfiltered look at the growing threats to homeland security and the urgent need to rethink how America defends its skies.

With decades of experience flying F-15s, F-35s, and stealth bombers, General VanHerck has spent his career on the frontlines of aerospace defense. 

But what he witnessed during his final years in command prompted him to speak out: America is not ready for the threats of today, let alone tomorrow.

From the vulnerabilities exposed by drones over Langley to the ambitious "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative, General VanHerck offers an insider perspective on why policy, not just technology, is our greatest weakness and how a layered, agile, and industrial-scale approach could change the game.

You’ll learn:

Golden Dome isn’t just missile defense. It’s a Manhattan Project-level effort. -Gen. Glen VanHerck

Guest Bio

General Glen D. VanHerck is Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).  NORAD conducts aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in the defense of North America.  USNORTHCOM partners to conduct homeland defense, civil support, and security cooperation to defend and secure the United States and its interests. General VanHerck is a graduate of the University of Missouri and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program.  He has a diverse operational and training background that includes assignments in the F-15C, F-35A, B-2A, and B-1B with over 3,200 flight hours.  He has served as an instructor pilot and flight examiner in the F-15C, B-2A, and T-6A. Additionally, he served as a U.S. Air Force Weapons School instructor in the F-15C and the B-2A. Connect with Gen. VanHerck 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! 

In complex industries like aerospace, defense, and manufacturing, there’s a dangerous disconnect between the boardroom and the factory floor. Executives focus on margins, growth, and shareholder value—but the employees making daily decisions often don’t understand how their work impacts the bottom line. 

Why? Because no one ever taught them.

In this episode of The Aerospace Executive Podcast, Dr. Kevin Koharki, former investment banker and now finance professor at Purdue University, explains how companies can unlock massive performance gains by teaching finance fundamentals to their workforce.

From engineers and sales teams to HR and operations, when employees understand financial strategy - how cash flow works, what drives ROI, how margin impacts decisions - they become smarter, more aligned, and more effective.

Kevin shares how he's helped Fortune 100 companies, private equity-backed aerospace firms, and industrial organizations build a culture of financial literacy that transforms performance from the ground up.

You’ll learn:

If you're leading a complex organization and want to align your teams around financial outcomes, this episode is for you.

Guest Bio

Kevin Koharki MBA, PhD is the founder of CAE Consulting, LLC.  He consults with, advises, and provides keynote speeches for some of the world’s largest firms (e.g., Fortune 100) across various industries such as aerospace and defense, banking, insurance, distribution, manufacturing, law firms, among others. He specializes in developing employees’ and Executives’ financial acumen so they understand and can communicate the financial value of their work, optimizing CEOs’ capital allocation priorities across their respective organizations. In doing so, clients benefit from enhanced organizational trust, culture, and performance.  Kevin is an expert financial analyst who has analyzed hundreds of firms over a 20-year career (including as an M&A analyst).  In addition, he has taught financial statement analysis at the Executive, Masters, and Undergraduate levels for 15 years at Top 50 universities.   He can be reached at [email protected], www.caecoach.org, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkoharki/, or (765) 637 – 3206

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!