Executive Team

Russell Ford was appointed Chief Executive Officer in October 2013 and subsequently elected as Chairman of the Board effective April 2019. With over 30 years of experience working in the aerospace industry Mr. Ford previously held various executive roles at Precision Castparts Corporation as the President of Carlton Forge Works and Dickson Test Group, ClearEdge Power Inc. as President and Chief Executive Officer, Prestolite Electric Inc. as President and Chief Executive Officer, Holley Performance Products Inc. as Chief Operations Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation as Senior Vice President of Operations, Allied Signal Corporation’s General Manager of the Industrial and Marine Engine Division and Bell Helicopter and AT&T in various engineering and management positions. Mr. Ford holds an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Daniel Satterfield was appointed Chief Financial Officer in January 2023. Prior to joining StandardAero, Mr. Satterfield served as Chief Financial Officer for Honeywell Aerospace from December 2018 to December 2022. Prior to his service at Honeywell, he worked in senior executive financial leadership roles at Gates Corporation, Eaton, Cooper Industries and Siemens. Mr. Satterfield has more than 30 years of international management experience delivering strong leadership in growth, productivity, acquisition integration, financial reporting, and complex accounting. He also has extensive engineering and manufacturing management expertise and corporate SEC and US GAAP experience. Mr. Satterfield holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Georgia. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Kim Ernzen was appointed Chief Operating Officer in May 2024. Prior to joining StandardAero, Ms. Ernzen served in a variety of leadership positions at Raytheon since 2014, including President, Naval Power, from April 2020 to May 2024, Senior Vice President, Air Warfare Systems, from November 2018 to March 2020, Vice President, Land Warfare Systems, from May 2017 to October 2018 and Vice President, Operations from March 2014 to May 2017. During her three decades of experience in the aerospace industry, Ms. Ernzen has held multiple director and manager roles at Raytheon as well as general aviation experience with Hawker Beechcraft and the former Raytheon Aircraft. Ms. Ernzen holds an Executive M.B.A., a Master of Science in aerospace engineering and a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering all from Wichita State University.

Lewis Prebble was appointed President of Commercial Engine Services in April 2021. Prior to joining StandardAero, Mr. Prebble served as Senior Vice President for the Americas at Rolls-Royce from February 2014 to March 2021. Mr. Prebble has more than 25 years of aerospace experience working in the aircraft engine and airline industries. Mr. Prebble held multiple executive positions at Rolls-Royce including Senior Vice President, Customer Business – Bombardier, Vice President, Customer Business – Americas and Head of Business Development & Marketing, Services and Sales Director – Asia Pacific. Prior to that, he worked five years in strategic positions for Air New Zealand. Mr. Prebble holds an M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Commerce & Administration in operations management from Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.

Greg Krekeler leads the StandardAero Component Repair Services division that provides aviation customers with world-class engine component and accessory repairs. Mr. Krekeler joined StandardAero in 2022 as Vice President and General Manager of the company’s Maryville, TN strategic business unit, which provides engine and auxiliary power unit (APU) maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for civil and defense customers.

Prior to joining StandardAero, Mr. Krekeler spent nearly 30-years in various aviation leadership and management roles at Boeing Defense, Boeing Global Services and within Boeing Supply Chain Management. He also served in Boeing Defense executive director roles in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for supply chain planning, logistics and sustainment, commodities and services procurement, major subcontracts, and technical development management. His extensive experience provides him with a special understanding of the complexities of original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and global supplier relationship management, as well as effective supply chain risk management.

Mr. Krekeler started his career with McDonnell Douglas in engineering, aircraft and software development in Phantom Works culminating as an integrated product team leader on the F/A-18 Super Hornet development and F/A-18 Program Chief of Staff.

Mr. Krekeler holds a Master of Business Administration from Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas. He has served on boards at all three universities and local charitable boards.

Marc Drobny was appointed President of Military, Helicopter & Energy in October 2020 and joined StandardAero in March 2018 as President of Business Aviation. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Drobny served as President of Executive Jet Management, a subsidiary of NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway company, from July 2016 to March 2018. Prior to his 13 years at NetJets, Mr. Drobny served 16 years in the U.S. Navy, rising through the ranks as an FA-18 Pilot and Test Pilot, including multiple combat deployments aboard the USS Carl Vinson and USS John F. Kennedy, amassing over 2,000 hours and 350 carrier landings across 22 types of airplanes and helicopters. Mr. Drobny holds a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School.

Giovanni Spitale was appointed President of Business Aviation in March 2026. Mr. Spitale is an operating executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience in industrial and aerospace businesses. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Davis-Standard, a private equity-owned industrial equipment manufacturer. Prior to Davis-Standard, Mr. Spitale held senior leadership roles at The Boeing Company within Boeing Global Services, including Vice President of Commercial Spares & Support. He also served as President, Customer Service & Support at Milacron. Earlier in his career, Mr. Spitale held multiple leadership roles at GE Aviation, Moog, and Honeywell International. He started his career in the United States Navy and later held roles at Moog and Honeywell International. Mr. Spitale holds an M.B.A. from Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Thomas Edison State University.

Alex Trapp serves as Chief Strategy Officer for StandardAero. Trapp is responsible for leading enterprise-wide strategy development, pursuit of new engine platforms and orchestration of joint ventures, mergers, and acquisitions, working closely within each of the company’s diverse end markets around the world. Prior to joining StandardAero in 2016, Trapp served as Vice President, Commercial at Rolls-Royce North America, where he was responsible for driving the company’s strategy and long-term customer contracts, as well as bidding and negotiating new business. In addition to working at Rolls-Royce, Trapp has extensive airline expertise having served in strategic planning, corporate development and finance leadership roles for ExpressJet Airlines and Continental Airlines. Overall, Trapp brings over 26 years of experience advising and leading companies through startup, turnaround, and high growth environments to StandardAero. Trapp holds an MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Trinity University.

Michael Kaplan serves as Chief Legal Officer for StandardAero. He reports directly the Chairman & CEO and serves as a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Kaplan brings more than 25 years of legal and executive leadership experience, including previously serving as SVP, General Counsel, Chief Security Officer and Secretary at StandardAero from 2010 to 2013. He most recently served as Senior Counsel at the global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, where he advised clients on complex corporate, securities, and mergers and acquisitions matters. Prior to that, Mr. Kaplan spent more than a decade as Chief Legal Officer leading the legal and compliance functions at M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., where he led legal, compliance, crisis response and governance functions. Mr. Kaplan also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., where he oversaw legal strategy. Mr. Kaplan holds a J.D. degree from Stanford Law School and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Government from the College of William & Mary.

Malisa Chambliss is the Chief Human Resources Officer at StandardAero, where she oversees all aspects of the company’s HR operations, including staffing, employee training and development, benefits, compensation, payroll and employee/labor relations. She leads a global team of HR professionals driving initiatives that enhance employee engagement and organizational growth. Chambliss joined StandardAero in 2020, bringing with her nearly two decades of experience as a global HR executive. Before StandardAero, Ms. Chambliss served as Executive HR Leader for GE Aviation’s Maintenance Operations, where she supported global manufacturing efforts across 22 sites with more than 12,000 employees. Her career also includes key HR leadership roles in GE’s Oil & Gas, Security, and Real Estate divisions, as well as positions at United Technologies Corporate, ServiceMaster, and CIGNA. Ms. Chambliss holds both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Troy University.

Alejandro Mayoral serves as Chief Information Officer. He joined StandardAero in April 2018 and is responsible for the company’s enterprise-wide information technology vision, strategy and execution. He is a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team. Prior to joining StandardAero, Mr. Mayoral served as Chief Information Officer, supporting GE Aviation’s Supply Chain and Business & General Aviation organizations. Earlier in GE, Mr. Mayoral served as Chief Information Officer for Avio Aero a GE Aviation business where he completed the integration of the recently acquired business unit and he led all aspects of information technology. He also served as Information Technology Director for the ERP implementation at GE Aviation’s MRO facilities. During his 20-year career, he has also served in roles as Lead Technologist for Hewlett-Packard and as Global Product Manager for the Procter and Gamble Company. Mr. Mayoral holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela, an MBA in International Business from Xavier University and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from University of Southern California.