The Aerospace Industries Association is pleased to announce that three leaders with extensive government and industry experience will be joining the AIA team. John Luddy has been named Vice President for National Security and Acquisition Policy (NS&AP), William 'Doc' Syers joins AIA as Vice President for Legislative Affairs and Paul Paolozzi will lead the Communications team as Vice President of Communications.

“I'm delighted to welcome John, Doc and Paul to the AIA team,” said AIA President and CEO Dave Melcher. “Collectively they bring outstanding leadership capabilities to AIA and will serve our members well in their new capacities.”

Luddy comes to AIA with extensive experience as president of his own consulting practice, Vector Solutions, representing several of our major member companies including Raytheon Missile Systems, Northrop Grumman, as well as the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. He was previously Aerojet Rocketdyne's Vice President for Washington Operations.

Syers joins AIA from ITT/Exelis, where for thirteen years he served as Vice President for Congressional Relations. Previously he served as Director of Congressional Relations for Northrop Grumman's Newport News Shipbuilding operation and Hughes Electronics/Raytheon. He also served for seven years as Legislative Director for Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.).

Paolozzi currently serves as Initiatives Group Chief for the Under Secretary of the Army, where he helps inform senior Army leaders' decision making on key strategic issues, decisions, projects and studies. He has extensive military and government experience, including positions as Commander of the Army's 18th Engineer Brigade in Germany and Afghanistan, Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense and Military Legislative Fellow to a U.S. Senator.