Vmo Aircraft Leasing appointed Dawne S. Hickton an independent member of its board of directors.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Dawne to our expanding Vmo board,” Robert Brown, executive chairman of Vmo Aircraft Leasing, said. “Dawne’s significant public and private board experience along with her leadership in the aerospace, defense and space industries will add immediate value to our focus on attaining sustainable growth and unlocking the intrinsic value of our platform for our stakeholders.”

Hickton currently serves as chair and CEO of Cumberland Additive, a 3D printing technology company that caters to the space, defense and aerospace markets. Prior to Cumberland Additive, Hickton was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the $5 billion critical mission solutions division of Jacobs Engineering Group. In 2019, she stepped off the Jacobs board to lead the CMS business. During her tenure, she established a new business portfolio, integrated four acquisitions and built a new cyber and intelligence unit. Prior to Jacobs, Hickton was CEO of RTI International Metals, a publicly traded supplier of advanced titanium and specialty metals.

“I am excited to be joining the Vmo board and look forward to working with a world-class executive team to leverage my experience and provide support as Vmo looks to significantly grow the business in the future,” Hickton said.

Hickton’s resume includes her prior roles as director and member of the executive committee of the Aerospace Industries Association, a Washington, D.C.-based organization supporting the U.S. aerospace and defense industries, and as director and chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Hickton has received multiple recognitions, including Washington Exec Top 100 Execs to Watch between 2020 and 2022; a Top 100 STEM Leader by STEMconnector, a consortium of businesses, organizations and universities that connect thought leaders on issues related to science, technology, engineering and math; and the 2010 Stem Woman of Distinction Award.

Hickton was recently selected by Vice President Kamala Harris to serve on the National Space Council’s users advisory group. In addition, Hickton currently serves as an emeritus board member of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and is a member of the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees. She is also president of The Wings Club Foundation and is affiliated with the Corporate Angel Network. Hickton was the first woman president of the ITA, where she founded a Women in Titanium, international organization that provides mentoring and scholarships for young women in the material sciences.