Meet our Technical Advisors
Eric A. Angione
Eric began his aerospace Purchasing career upon employment at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) Norden Systems in 1986. He was previously employed upon his graduation from Fordham University at Ayco/American Express where he was a Financial Analyst. At Norden, Eric held Purchasing positions of ever increasing responsibility in major Subcontracts from Buyer through Subcontractor Administrator responsible for key Radar Systems Subcontracts.
In 1991 he transferred to UTC Sikorsky Aircraft where he held various senior Purchasing positions in major Subcontracts, both domestic and internationally based. His focus was on authoring, negotiating and overseeing key Sikorsky Subcontracts with major Aerospace Suppliers as Honeywell, Eaton Corporation, Parker, General Dynamics, Rockwell, Esterline, and Raytheon to name just a few. He continually drove substantial savings to the company bottom line and was looked upon as Sikorsky’s key procurement negotiator and Project Manager. He spent considerable time on International assignments managing and overseeing manufacturing Projects and Programs in Asia and Europe. Eric was also Sikorsky Account Manager integrated into UTC’s One Company Purchasing organization which purpose was to utilize the buying leverage of all UTC Companies when dealing with its Supply base. Eric has obtained all the key Purchasing and Manufacturing certifications from UTC and is well known in the industry for his negotiation and Project Management skills.
Donald S. Antilla
Donald has extensive experience in analysis, development, integration and hands-on troubleshooting of complex Avionics Systems on Sikorsky helicopters. His skill set, developed during 43 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, spans the range from anticipating future trends, modern avionics system architectures, modern cockpit designs, helicopter self- defense systems, state of the art tactical and civil navigation, communication systems, and integration of avionics system/sensors with Flight Control Systems. As a result of his analytic and hands-on capabilities, Donald was named the first Avionics Technical Fellow at Sikorsky in 2002 and received the Sikorsky Lifetime Achievement award for his work. In 2008, Don was inducted as a Technical Fellow in the American Helicopter Society.
He is skilled in real world operational needs, writes complex specifications, and negotiated smant specifications/SOWs with multiple international and US customers. He holds several patents related to SAR direction finding and collision avoidance. Donald has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from New York University.
Ben Del Monte
Ben has years of progressive hands-on experience with aircraft mechanical systems design and analysis. Extensive experience in both military and commercial fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft design with a track record of high-performance and demonstrated results. He also has significant experience and communication skills with many foreign partner companies and component suppliers. He also holds 2 US and foreign patents for Landing Gear Design.
As an engineering consultation, Ben specializes in propulsion, fuel, and landing gear/hydraulic systems. With 27 years of experience at Sikorsky, Ben was responsible for mechanical systems including propulsion, fuel systems, landing gear, and mission equipment on all Sikorsky models. Ben was recognized with the Sikorsky Lifetime Achievement Design Award for 2013 by the President of Sikorsky Aircraft.
Ben has a BE degree in Engineering Sciences at and an AS degree in Engineering Sciences from the State University of NY. He is a member of Society of Automotive and Aerospace Engineers (SAE), A5 Landing Gear Systems committee and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Frank DiPasquale
Frank is a results oriented executive with over 30 years of diverse, rounded, and significant domestic and international aerospace commercial and military work with experience in US, Middle East, Asia, Europe and South America. Extensive and broad experience includes growth and M&A strategy, business strategy, business turnaround, large scale performance transformations. Frank is a recognized industry leader with proven leadership and performance transformation experience as well as strong problem solving, communication, execution, and people development skills.
He is currently advising certain aerospace companies both domestic and international on growing and expanding their respective businesses. His previous industry experience was as Vice President of Sales and Strategic Relationships for Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS), where he was directly responsible for identifying new business opportunities to expand the company’s global aftermarket offering of world-class products and services. Working closely with his team, Frank develops, implements and negotiates strategic global partnerships and acquisitions.
Frank joined Sikorsky Aircraft in 2001 as Director of Business Development and Acquisitions. In this position, Frank was responsible for generating new business by introducing commercial support concepts into Sikorsky’s military business base quadrupling the aftermarket business over his 12 year career at Sikorsky. Prior to Sikorsky, Frank spent three years as Vice President & General Manager at Meggitt Avionics Fluid Monitoring Division, in addition to 20 years at Eaton Aerospace Tedeco Division in various roles.
Frank holds a BS degree in Business Administration and an MBA in International Marketing from Widener University.
John (Jack) Fischer
John has over 35 years of experience providing strategic direction and leadership in manufacturing and aerospace industries. He has served as executive leader, with full P&L responsibility for operations such as the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor and at Sikorsky Aircraft (BLACKHAWK, Naval Hawk, CH-53, S/H-92 and others). John is an experienced leader and mentor. He is skilled in engineering and in all aspects of company and program management, including performance measurement, scheduling, analysis, corrective action, and reporting.
John has led many high performance teams for various programs from development through production and sustainment. He has assisted companies in obtaining certified earned-value systems. He has utilized six sigma practices and lean manufacturing techniques to improve operational performance, reduce cost, improve performance to contract, and increase operational effectiveness. John has supported major programs in Aerospace and Defense, Defense Electronics and many other company operations both domestically and internationally.
John co-designed and delivered project management and scheduling training at Bell Helicopter Textron for over 100 students. He trained over 200 students in electronic principles for radio technicians while serving in the United States Marine Corps. He has also created and trained visual basic macros for MS Project and Excel for unique applications.
John has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. Other highlights include a Systems Engineering Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Six Sigma Green Belt, and he is a Vietnam Veteran, United States Marine Corps.
Frank A. Kubecka
Frank possess extensive leadership and managerial experience in commercial and military aerospace organizations. He demonstrates success in product support operations with profit and loss responsibility. He is highly skilled in material operations, program management, out-sourcing and warehouse operations. Frank has an extensive background in Supply Chain Management. He has worked in many high level management roles at Intertrade, a Rockwell Collins Company. His most recent position was as Operations Manager where he was responsible for warehouse operations, facilities management for all Intertrade locations, quality system management including ISO certification, while retaining Business & Regional System (BRS) program management responsibility. He was also Manager of Business & Regional Systems (BRS) and Government Systems Product Lines at Intertrade. In that capacity he directed a staff responsible for BRS and Government Systems Product Line program management in support of Intertrade sales and earnings goals. Program management included determining what inventory to purchase and sourcing at competitive prices, repair sourcing, and sell price determination. Prior to that he worked at several large international aircraft companies in key logistic roles. He also served in the United States Air Force as Second Lieutenant through Colonel.
Frank has a Master of Science in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, from Southwest Texas State College.
Paula Mitchell
Paula has over 25 years of Financial, Accounting, Corporate Development, Mergers and Acquisitions, Financial Planning and Analysis, Human Resources Management, Strategic and Annual Operations Planning, Supply Chain Management, and Program/Project Management experience. The last eight years she was the CFO for several defense contractors and software firms and most recently, Make-A-Wish Arizona. Prior to her CFO roles, Paula spent eight years consulting in Mergers and Acquisitions where she was responsible for due diligence, assessment of target companies, valuations, execution of the integration plans and successful attainment of key performance metrics. Prior to consulting, Paula held Senior Leadership roles with Aerospace and Defense contractors in Finance, Human Resources, Contracts, and Supply Chain Management. She is a specialist in evaluating companies’ strengths and can quickly identify solutions for financial and operational success.
Paula received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Arizona State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Business, specializing in Finance and Marketing from Woodbury University. She has also completed Lockheed’s Leadership Institute and Management Certification program along with a Certification in Government Contracting from California State University Northridge.
Wayne R. Prentice
Wayne Prentice has over 36 years of Program, Material and Information Technology Business Management experience on large, complex development and production programs. Prior to consulting, Wayne worked 25 years for Northrop Grumman, holding numerous positions of increasing responsibility. His last assignment was as Chief Financial Officer for the Internal Information Technology Solutions business. Wayne was responsible for all the Business Management activities and served as the primary business interface with all operating segments of the corporation for internal Information Technology Services managing an annual budget of $1.2B.
Prior to this internal promotion Wayne was the Director, Business Management for International Air Defense and Infrastructures Programs for the Electronic Systems Sector and was responsible for Contract Administration, Pricing Administration, Financial Analysis and Program Control of all International Systems and Sensors Programs having an average annual sales value in excess of $325 million dollars. One of the primary contributions for the Sector was leading the International Air Defense and Infrastructures Business Management and Program Teams to negotiate, establish contract baseline and measure performance for three major International development programs.
Wayne attended Central Connecticut State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts and has completed graduate course work in Business Administration at Sacred Heart University. During his career, Wayne completed advanced training at various institutions in numerous subjects. Wayne has been a member of the National Contract Management Association since 1986, is a certified Industrial Arts Instructor and has received numerous awards for his contributions and services to the companies he has worked for.
Randy Simpson
Randy has over 35 years of experience providing strategic direction and leadership in the Aerospace and Defense industry. Randy served as an executive leader, with development programs and operations responsibility for projects with Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems (F-22 fighter, and C-5B/C-130J heavy lift transports) and Sikorsky Aircraft (BLACKHAWK, Naval Hawk, S/H-92 helicopters and X2 concept demonstrator). He is an experienced leader, versatile team member and mentor. Skilled in all aspects of company, program and operations management, Randy’s demonstrated expertise has been focused upon lean enterprise, value stream management, performance measurement, analysis/corrective action, and reporting. With a strong focus on P&L performance, he has held key positions in tier 1 company programs and operations functions and has managed independent tier 2 aerospace businesses. Since retiring from full time employment, Randy has led consulting engagements within the aerospace, energy and economic development industries. Randy is a certified ACE associate (UTC) and has personally led enterprise and program value stream events supporting lean improvements. He is also certified instructor in Earned Value Management and has participated in training over 100 students in basic principles of Earned Value and Scheduling.
Randy has Bachelor of Science from The University of Georgia and an MBA from Georgia State University. He also has extensive training and training from United Technologies-Darden Executive Education, University of Virginia General Electric Six Sigma Executive Education, Shingijutsu Japan, Lockheed-Emory Executive Development Institute, Emory University and Lockheed Advanced Management Development Programs
Erich G. Smith
Erich's has 40 years of experience providing strategic direction, leadership, and executive management in the Aerospace and Defense Industry. Erich has served as executive leader and general manager with full P&L responsibility for operations at Vought Aircraft Industries. Vought held major subcontracts for Commercial products (Airbus A320 family of aircraft, A330, A340, Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787, Gulfstream V, and several business jet nacelle systems) and Military products (F/A-18, F-22, F-35, C-17, C-5, C-130, Global Hawk, V-22, B-2, E2C, H-60 Blackhawk family, and several UAV programs). He is an experienced leader at running Programs, Engineering, Logistics, Manufacturing Engineering, Tool Fabrication, and Manufacturing.
Erich served as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Vought Aircraft Industries where he was responsible for all company programs and operations with full P&L responsibility. Prior to joining Vought, he served as Vice President of Military Programs for a division of Northrop Grumman again with full P&L responsibility. He also spent over 14 years working on the B-2 Stealth Bomber development in
various management positions. Erich led primarily Engineering, but also Logistics,Manufacturing Engineering, Tool Fabrication and Program Management.
Erich has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is a current member of the Board of Advisors to the Engineering Department at Southern Methodist University.
