Today, Dayton Aerospace, Inc., celebrates our 40th Anniversary. It’s a momentous occasion, and we pause to reflect on our rich history.
Four decades ago, Colonel Jim Waite retired from the Air Force as the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) Director of Contracting at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). But he wasn’t done yet. He knew he still had valuable contributions to make to the defense acquisition community and its legacy of excellence in acquiring and sustaining some of the world’s premier capabilities.
And so, along with his good friend and fellow Air Force contracting guru, Gene Kirchmer, the visionary pair set out to build a path for retired acquisition experts to stay engaged in the industry to which many had devoted their entire careers.
Dayton Aerospace has weathered storms, celebrated victories, and forged lasting relationships with our employees, clients, and partners. Every milestone and achievement are a testament to the remarkable legacy and validation of Jim’s vision—a truly unique concept in 1984.
Our company stands tall today because of the values instilled by Jim now 40 years ago—excellence and integrity in pursuit of new technologies, markets, and opportunities, coupled with a genuine concern for our people. We continue to be the go to source to assist clients through our expertise in areas of airworthiness, capabilities planning, coaching/training, foreign military sales, intellectual property, program management, proposal development, schedule planning & execution, strategic planning, training, and many others.
As we toast the next 40 years, we remember that our success is a collective achievement—one that transcends time and titles. We sincerely thank every person who has been a part of our remarkable story.
