Reno, NV based Aerion named Tom Vice, former president of Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector, as president and chief operating officer. He will play a leading role in the development of the company’s AS2 Supersonic business jet.

Aerion announced in December 2017 that it was joining forces with GE Aviation and Lockheed Martin to develop the AS2 business jet. As the program accelerates, it is adding management and engineering expertise in order to achieve first flight in 2023 and aircraft certification in 2025.

“We are immensely pleased to attract someone of Tom’s accomplishments and experience. He is a visionary and inspiring leader, with relentless discipline and long-term focus,” said Aerion Executive Chairman and CEO Brian Barents, to whom Vice will report. “He strengthens our impressive team as we transition from a focus on advance design to a program development and production orientation.”