People

Ray Miller

Universal Avionics, Tucson, Ariz., promoted Ray Miller to vice president and general manager of its Instrument Division, located in Duluth, Ga. In this new position, Miller will oversee engineering design and certification of the company’s line of flat-panel integrated display systems, engine interface units and control panels. Miller most recently was general manager of the Instrument Division. Previously, he was the division’s director of product development and program management. Before joining Universal Avionics in 1997, Miller worked at Harris Corp. and Loral Corp., now L-3 Communications.

Mike Russo

Mike Russo was named executive secretary of the AEEC conference. Russo replaces Roy Oishi, who served for five years as AEEC chairman. Oishi will continue as manager of ARINC Industry Activities Technical Staff and will continue to support AEEC subcommittees. Russo has been with ARINC for 30 years, 22 of those years in Industry Activities. He previously served as AEEC secretary and vice chairman. The 2008 AEEC General Session will take place Oct. 20-23 in Tulsa, Okla.

Kirk Demuth

Kansas State University at Salina named Kirk Demuth director of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Office, which is part of the university’s new Applied Aviation Research Center. Demuth will be responsible for developing policies and procedures to incorporate and facilitate the entry of unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System. Demuth has more than 1,000 hours of UAV formation flying as a chase plane observer for the Predator and Reaper UAVs. Most recently, he served as chief pilot and maintenance director for Chalk 2 Aviation in Victorville, Calif. Demuth also is a certificated commercial pilot, ground instructor and flight instructor.

Joe Bottenfield

Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Lynnwood, Wash., named Joe Bottenfield vice president of Microwave Systems Solutions, which includes sites in Beverly, Mass., and Chandler, Ariz. Crane’s Microwave Systems provide RF and microwave solutions for the defense, space and communications industries for use in electronic countermeasures, missiles, radar, intelligence and guidance systems. Before coming to Crane Aerospace, Bottenfield was director of avionics, North America, for Barco. He also worked for Herley Industries in business development and engineering.

Mitch Iverson

Esterline AVISTA, Platteville, Wis., named Mitch Iverson vice president of engineering. Iverson has more than 20 years of experience in safety-critical software development. Previously, as an Esterline AVISTA programs manager, Iverson led outsourced software development and systems engineering projects under various certification guidelines, including DO-178B and DO-254.

Chad D. Thorne, Farhad Daghigh

Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S), Exton, Pa., promoted Chad D. Thorne to vice president of business development and marketing. Prior to joining IS&S in November 2007, Thorne worked for Crane Aerospace for eight years in a variety of business development roles, and for Cessna Aircraft in the Utility Systems Engineering Group. IS&S also named Farhad Daghigh vice president of military business development. Daghigh will be responsible for military sales and marketing of the company’s Integrated Aircraft Cockpit Display Systems. Prior to joining IS&S, Daghigh worked for Smiths Aerospace as the North American marketing manager for vehicle/crew information systems. Before that, Daghigh worked for Orbital Sciences Corp., L-3 Communications and Aydin Vector.

Daniel Elwell

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), based in Arlington, Va., named Daniel Elwell, FAA assistant administrator for Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment, as vice president of civil aviation. At FAA, Elwell is responsible for strategic policy and planning efforts, national aviation policies and strategies in the environment and energy arenas. Before joining FAA, Elwell was with American Airlines as managing director of International and Government Affairs. He was the corporate representative and consultant to the Departments of Transportation and State on bilateral and multilateral aviation negotiations, international dispute resolution and international alliances. Earlier, Elwell was a captain with aeronautical ratings for the DC-10, MD-80 and B-767.

Jerry Henry

Sandel Avionics, Vista, Calif., named Jerry Henry director of sales. Henry will be responsible for worldwide sales of Sandel’s primary navigation and attitude displays, terrain awareness and warning system and solid-state attitude heading reference system. Henry was most recently with Avidyne Corp.

Stephen L. Waechter

ARINC, Annapolis, Md., named Stephen L. Waechter vice president of business operations and chief financial officer. Waechter was most recently chief financial officer, treasurer and executive vice president of CACI International. Before that, he was CFO for Government Technology Services, Inc., and Applied Bioscience International.