AIR 2025 :: 14-16 juin

Dr. Todd Citron is the senior vice president and chief technology officer of The Boeing Company, overseeing its global technology strategy and a 5,000-person organization, including Boeing Research & Technology, AvionX, and Aurora Flight Sciences. He also manages engineering for Boeing subsidiary Wisk and joint venture SkyGrid, focusing on advanced air mobility. Previously, Citron held various leadership roles in Boeing Defense, Space & Security, ensuring technical integrity and enhancing engineering quality. He has published numerous technical papers, holds three patents, and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and AIAA. Citron earned degrees from Purdue and Stanford University.

Kajsa Ollongren is a politician who served in the Netherlands as Minister of Defence (2022–24) and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (2017–22) in two consecutive Rutte cabinets, also holding the role of Deputy Prime Minister (2017–22). Previously, she was an alderwoman and deputy Mayor of Amsterdam. Having entered the Dutch civil service in 1991, she served as the deputy secretary-general (2007-11) and secretary-general (2011-14) within the Prime Minister’s office. Ollongren, who is a dual Dutch and Swedish national, studied history at the University of Amsterdam and Public Administration at the École Nationale d'Administration in Paris.

Patricia was born in a rural village in Ghana with no basic infrastructure. She was raised by her grandmother and had a challenging early life. After secondary school, she sold firewood until she discovered aviation. She started as an unpaid worker at an airstrip, later earning an apprenticeship in Aviation and Technology. Through determination, she became Ghana’s first civilian female pilot and achieved multiple aviation milestones. She became the UK’s first Black female aircraft inspector for two major aviation bodies. Patricia has led multiple youth and women’s aviation projects. She founded Fafali Aircraft Ltd and a STEAM-focused nonprofit. She has received numerous awards, including an OBE. Her inspiring story is featured in books, with her autobiography set for release in 2025.

Prior to being appointed President – Civil Aerospace, Rob was President - Rolls-Royce Electrical and played a fundamental role in building the Rolls-Royce Electrical business since October 2017. Prior to this role, Rob held a number of different roles across the Group, joining as Regional Director, Middle East, before taking on a number of customer business and programme management leadership roles. He was also Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive. Rob worked in the oil and gas industry before joining Rolls-Royce. He started his career as a diplomat with the British Foreign Office.

Yuriko Nadia Backes, née en 1970 à Kobe, au Japon, de parents luxembourgeois, a étudié à Londres avant de débuter une carrière diplomatique en 1994. Elle a occupé divers postes, notamment auprès des Nations unies, de l'Union européenne et au Japon. En 2020, elle devient la première femme maréchale de la Cour du grand-duc Henri. En 2021, elle est nommée ministre des Finances du Luxembourg, où elle gère la crise inflationniste liée à la guerre en Ukraine. Elle promeut aussi les relations économiques avec l'Asie et soutient des réformes économiques et numériques au Luxembourg.

Wahid Nawabi has served as our Chief Executive Officer and chairman of our board of directors since 2016. Wahid joined AeroVironment in 2011 as senior vice president and general manager of the Efficient Energy Systems (EES) business segment, where he reshaped the segment’s business strategy, launched several award-winning, innovative new products, and significantly improved its position in the market. Prior to his current role, Wahid served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the company, where he managed all aspects of AeroVironment’s two business segments. Wahid spent 16 years of his career at American Power Conversion Corporation (APC) in multiple leadership roles helping the company achieve its business strategy.

Antoine began his career at Safran, working in engineering and marketing before becoming Product Marketing Director for LEAP engines in 2008. In 2010, he joined Bombardier, leading marketing efforts for the C Series (now A220) and supporting major sales campaigns worldwide. He later joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, developing consulting services for aviation stakeholders. In 2023, he launched AvBench, an independent Business Intelligence firm analyzing aircraft performance in airline fleets. A dual French-Canadian citizen, Antoine lives in Montreal with his wife and two sons.

Dr. Christian von Buttlar has been a member of NATO’s International Staff since 2007. He currently holds the position of Head, Office of the DIANA Chair. Previous positions include Head of Office, Secretary General’s Liaison to NATO Agencies; Chief of Staff, NATO Agencies Reform Team; and Officer, Defense Investment Division. Prior to joining NATO, he was employed as Junior Professor in International Relations, European and Public International Law at Saarland University, Germany, and as Speechwriter / Senior Assistant in the German Parliament. He has a PhD in Law and a Master in European Law. He is married and has 3 children.

Jasper Krauser is the Central Coordinator of Quantum Technologies in Airbus. As part of Airbus central R&T organization, his team is exploring quantum technologies for aerospace applications in the fields of quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. Jasper joined Airbus in 2015, where he was leading a team to explore the next generation of optical instruments in Space before his current assignment. Jasper was a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Optical Quantum Technologies in Hamburg, after he acquired his PhD in quantum physics from the University of Hamburg.

Lionel M. Lavenue is a partner in Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP’s Reston, Virginia office, and leads the firm’s Aerospace, Aviation, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry group. With experience in more than 180 district court litigations, Lionel's practice focuses on IP matters including patent trial litigation and patent portfolio management for a variety of technologies (including appeals), especially those related to aviation, UAS, UAV, and drone technologies. Lionel has experience in the preparation of over 1,000 patent applications and filing more than 75 IPR petitions and covered business method (CBM) petitions. He frequently speaks and writes on aviation and UAS topics.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dr. Dennis Gyllensporre is the Chair of NATO DIANA Board of Directors. He is also an Associate Professor of Security Policy and Strategy at the Swedish Defence University. Gyllensporre is the recipient of the Swedish Royal Order of the Sword for leadership excellence and the Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit in gold for distinguished leadership during combat and war-like situations. He is awarded the French Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur. Gyllensporre is inaugurated to the Hall of Fame at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (2017) and the U.S. National Defense University (2022).

Elvie Lahournere serves as a Partner for Aerospace, Defense, and Space in the Middle East at Kearney. In this capacity, she leads efforts in localization and industrialization across the MEA region, supporting industry development to achieve and sustain a competitive edge. With 18 years of experience spanning Asia and Europe, Elvie has honed her expertise in operational and strategic development across various industries. She has held senior positions with several technology and strategy firms in China, including Alten. Most recently, at Natixis, she was responsible for promoting and facilitating the Digital and Innovation Strategy across the APAC platform and globally for the bank. Elvie holds a MSc in Mechanical Engineering and an Executive MBA from INSEAD Tsinghua. She has also cultivated a deep understanding and extensive network within the technology landscape in China and, more recently, in the UAE, where she serves as a board member of French Tech UAE.

Aurélie Girou débute sa carrière en 2005 en tant qu’acheteur forgés et matière chez Messier-Dowty. Elle occupe ensuite des fonctions commerciales avant de prendre la Direction des Programmes de trains d’atterrissages des avions d’affaires, militaires et hélicoptères chez Safran Landing Systems. Elle prend ensuite la Direction des Achats de la division Roues et Freins de Safran puis la Direction des Programmes de trains d’atterrissage de la famille Airbus Single Aisle. Elle est aujourd’hui en charge de l’innovation ouverte pour le Groupe au sein de Safran Corporate Ventures. A ce titre, Aurélie Girou a monté Safran Explore, et lancé Explore H2 un programme d’accompagnement de start-ups dans le domaine de l’hydrogène.

Lorenzo holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy, where his research focused on Artificial Intelligence to enhance the mission autonomy of small satellites. His career includes over 8 years of experience developing flight software and AI applications for small satellites. He has also contributed as a visiting researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), working on small satellite mission design and telecommunication architecture modeling. Prior to founding AIKO, Lorenzo gained professional experience at SES in Luxembourg, a global leader in space telecommunications. Under Lorenzo’s leadership, AIKO has grown to over 50 employees and continues to innovate in the field of autonomous space systems.

Dr. Alan Baratz became the CEO of D-Wave in 2020. Previously, as Executive Vice President of R&D and Chief Product Officer, he drove the development, delivery, and support of all of D-Wave’s products, technologies, and applications. He has over 25 years of experience in product development and bringing new products to market at leading technology companies and software startups. As the first president of JavaSoft at Sun Microsystems, Alan oversaw the growth and adoption of the Java platform from its infancy to a robust platform supporting mission-critical applications in nearly 80 percent of Fortune 1000 companies. He has also held executive positions at Symphony, Avaya, Cisco, and IBM. He served as CEO and president of Versata, Zaplet, and NeoPath Networks, and as a managing director at Warburg Pincus LLC. Alan holds a doctorate in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Brian Moran is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Boeing and a member of the Boeing Executive Council. He leads efforts in aerospace sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and integrated reporting. Moran’s role includes guiding decision-making on sustainability trends, opportunities, and risks. He is based in Amsterdam. Previously, he was VP of Global Sustainability Policy & Partnerships, managing global policy and partnerships to support Boeing's sustainability goals. Over his 20+ years at Boeing, he has held leadership roles in commercial, defense, communications, and government affairs. Moran holds degrees in international business, French, and an MBA. He has completed executive programs at the Wharton School and the Brookings Institution. Fluent in English, German, and French, he is an alumnus of prominent leadership programs.

Pete Cannito is the Chairman and CEO of Redwire, leading its growth in space infrastructure. He has over 25 years of experience in defense, technology, and government services. Previously, he was CEO of Polaris Alpha, overseeing 1,400 employees across 19 locations. Under his leadership, Polaris Alpha tripled revenue and completed five acquisitions. He held executive roles at EOIR Technologies and Booz Allen Hamilton. Pete also founded a company focused on enterprise mobile computing. He is an operating partner at AEI Industrial and serves on multiple company boards. His board roles include Chairman of BigBear.ai and member of Firefly Aerospace. He holds a finance degree from the University of Delaware and an MBA from Maryland. Pete is also a former officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Jonathan Baliff is the CFO and a Board Member of Redwire. With over 25 years in aviation, energy, and infrastructure, he has served as a senior executive and investment banker. Before joining Redwire, he was President and CFO of Genesis Park Acquisition Corp, which merged with Redwire in 2021. Previously, he was CFO and later CEO of Bristow Group, a global helicopter and aviation company. At Bristow, he led growth and improved safety and financial performance. He also headed business development at NRG Energy and advised on M&As at Credit Suisse. Jonathan serves on Texas Capital Bank's board and holds degrees from Georgia Tech and Georgetown University. He is a former U.S. Air Force officer and combat pilot.

Kevin Noertker, co-founder and CEO of Ampaire, is advancing sustainable aviation by integrating hybrid-electric technology into aircraft, old and new. With a background in aerospace engineering at Caltech, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Northrop Grumman, Noertker emphasizes practical, stepwise innovation. Under his leadership, Ampaire has logged hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of hybrid-electric flight miles, and aims to revolutionize regional air travel by reducing emissions, improving economics, and expanding access to underserved communities. His vision combines technical innovation with environmental responsibility, creating scalable solutions that balance today’s realities - hybrid electric upgrades - with future aspirations for fully electric aviation.

Dr Schwer is an accomplished executive with extensive international experience across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. He has held senior roles in the global defence industry, including 14 years at Airbus Group and five at Rheinmetall AG. Most recently, as President of EOS EMEA, he oversaw the company’s expansion in NATO and Middle Eastern markets, strengthening its global presence. Among his qualifications, he holds a PhD in the field of system modelling and numerical optimisation.

Drake brings with him 16 years of experience in defence systems technology and a deep understanding of the defence procurement market. In his previous role at Babcock International as Chief Executive of Mission Systems and Group Chief Technology Officer, Drake was responsible for driving innovation and technology across the Group, managing more than 1,500 staff and reporting directly to the Group CEO. He delivered significant business growth and profitability for Babcock’s Defence Systems Technology business. Drake previously held the roles of Programme Director, Business Development Director, and Engineering Director in the same business where he led engineering activities for nearly 10 years. Prior to this, Drake was the Head of Landing Gear Extension and Retraction Systems within Airbus.

Mark Bitterman is the Vice President of Government Affairs at Portal Space Systems. He previously served as Vice President of Government Relations at Stratolaunch LLC and has held senior roles at several space industry leaders, including United Launch Alliance (ULA), SpaceX, and Orbital Sciences Corporation. Bitterman’s career also includes a tenure at Booz Allen Hamilton, specializing in national security policy at the National Reconnaissance Office. His government experience includes serving as Special Assistant for Intelligence and Special Operations at the Pentagon and as a Military Legislative Assistant to a U.S. Congressman. Bitterman holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, a bachelor’s in international politics from Rutgers University, and a Certificate in National Security from Harvard University.