Eric FanningPresident & Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace Industries Association

Eric Fanning is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the leading advocacy organization for the aerospace and defense industry with more than 320 companies in its membership – ranging from multinational prime contractors to family-owned small businesses. As AIA’s leader, Fanning develops the association’s strategic priorities and works with member company CEOs to advocate for policies and investment that keep our country strong and competitive, bolster our capacity to innovate, and spur our economic growth.

Mr. Fanning brings nearly 30 years of public and private sector experience to his role at AIA. He joined the association after serving as the 22nd Secretary of the Army, where he provided civilian leadership and oversight of our nation’s largest military service. He is the only person to have held senior appointments in all three military departments and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, previously serving as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense, Acting Secretary of the Air Force and Under Secretary of the Air Force, and Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy/Deputy Chief Management Officer. In these roles, he helped spearhead budgets, personnel planning, and weapons systems and equipment acquisition.

Prior to his roles at the Pentagon and AIA, Fanning worked on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee and as Senior Vice President of Strategic Development for Business Executives for National Security. He was also the Deputy Director of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism and was associate director of political affairs at the White House.

Fanning has been appointed to a number of bipartisan and nonpartisan boards and commissions. This includes the NASA Advisory Council and National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group. He also serves as the Chair of the United States Air Force Academy Board of Visitors and as a member of the congressionally mandated Commission on Planning, Programming, Budget and Execution Reform. He currently chairs the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA), and also serves as a member of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Board of Advisors, the Council of Manufacturing Associations Board of Advisers, the National Medal of Honor Museum Advisory Board, and the Economic Club of Washington, DC.

Fanning holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College. His awards include the Department of Defense’s Medal for Distinguished Public Service (twice awarded), the Department of the Army’s Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service, the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award (twice awarded), and the Department of the Air Force’s Distinguished Public Service Award and Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service.