I graduated to aviation program management in 2000 as Project Manager for the Apache Longbow Program at IMC Magnetics, which provided 3 blowers systems to Fairchild Controls and Boeing for the environmental control systems.  During my tenure as Project Manager on this project, IMC received an overall supplier rating of 99.3% (up 40 points from the prior rating) and was credited by Fairchild Controls management for the most dramatic performance turnaround every exhibited by one of their vendors.  IMC Magnetics received the Fairchild Controls Supplier of the Year Award in 2003 as a result.

Over the next few years I moved into more demanding roles with more customers and more products. I eventually became the Program Manager of the Fan/Motors Department. I was responsible for developing schedules, vendor/supplier timelines, for delivery & accountability, for sustaining production schedules and for customer coordination if problems arose above the standard customer service resolution process

Working in Program management taught me the critical nature of communications.  Understanding the needs of customers, as well as of their end users — often the Airman, Sailor, Soldier or Marine in a combat situation — is critical to knowing which issues are going to be fundamentally important, and keeping the customer informed in all phases of a program is critical to maintaining a good working relationship and ensuring that your product meets their needs.  Even when the news is bad, good communication can go a long way to avoiding a critical breakdown in the supply of product.  Without it, dates slip, deadlines are missed, and aircraft don’t fly!