Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Joseph (Joe) Ford spent two years as the Chief Executive Officer of Draken International. In that role he was responsible for the entire operations of the company. During his tenure the company grew and expanded its operations winning several significant US and foreign military contracts. In addition, he led the effort to procure F-16 aircraft from two nations, significantly enhancing the ability for the company to meet customer requirements. Moreover, he was the primary driver in the successful acquisition and integration of the former Cobham UK Company into Draken International.

Joe previously served as DynCorp International’s President of DynAviation. He was responsible for all aspects of the segment’s profit and loss performance with functions including operations, supply chain management, finance, quality assurance, human resources, contracts and internal and external business development. Mr. Ford previously served as DI’s Senior Vice President for Strategy and Business Development.

Prior to joining DynCorp International, Mr. Ford was the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Beechcraft Defense Company in Wichita, Kansas. He served earlier as the company’s Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Director of the Light Attack Program.

Before joining Beechcraft, Mr. Ford spent three years with AAR Corporation serving in roles including: Vice President for Strategic Development and Governmental Programs in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) segment; Vice President for Legislative Affairs; and Vice President and General Manager for Presidential Airways, an AAR subsidiary.

Mr. Ford had a distinguished military career, retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel in January of 2007 as the commander of the 401st Air Expeditionary Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Other roles during his military career include commander of the 18th Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan and commander of the 35th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. Mr. Ford is a combat veteran with four fighter deployments to the Middle East. His aviation career includes over 4,000 hours in aircraft including the F-4C/D, A-7D, F- 117, F-16A/B/C/D, F-15C/D, HH-60, E-3 and KC-135R.
Mr. Ford’s Air Force staff assignments also included a tour as Chief, Crisis Action Branch J-7, the Joint Staff and as Chief, Legislative Affairs Division, Directorate of Legislative Liaison, Secretary of the Air Force, in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ford holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Florida International University, a master’s degree in management from Troy University, and a master’s degree in military studies from the United States Marine Corps University. He is a graduate of the Marine Command and Staff College, was a National Defense Fellow at Georgetown University, and completed the MIT Sloan School of Management’s executive program for strategy and innovation.