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Day 1 Fireside Chat – Aircraft OEM: Andrew Gappy
Andrew is currently the Vice President of Leonardo Helicopters USA, Inc. after joining the company in 2010. He is responsible for all current programs and future opportunities within the Federal Government, including the Department of Defense. Through his strategic innovation and leadership, his single business unit has penetrated an incredibly competitive market, and is responsible for over $4B of revenue with executing programs including both USAF MH-139A "Grey Wolf" and US Navy's TH-73 "Thrasher" training helicopter.
Andrew’s more than 30-year career in the aviation industry began as a Marine 2nd Lt. flying UH-1N’s (Hueys). While stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, he has multiple deployments to Okinawa, Japan, and was a part of Marine Expeditionary Special Operations Capable (MEU SOC) Units serving in Somalia. He remained at Camp Pendleton with a tour as an Instructor Pilot in Helicopter Training Squadron 303, where he was designated a Standardization Instructor Pilot, responsible for training new Instructor Pilots, and a Maintenance Functional Check Pilot.
In 1999, Andrew was selected to serve at Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), the Presidential Helicopter Squadron in Quantico, Va. During his tour at HMX-1, he earned designations as an Aircraft Commander in three additional helicopters (CH-53E, VH-3D, and VH-60N), served as an Operations Officer, as well as the Officer in Charge of the Contingency Planning Department. Andrew was also earned designation as a Presidential Command Pilot, with the responsibility of flying Foreign Heads of State and Presidential and Vice-Presidential support missions worldwide.
After 12 years of flying and following his tour at HMX-1, Andrew was assigned to the White House as a Program Manager at the White House Military Office (WHMO) – Office of Plans, Programs, and Requirements. As a post-Sept 11th Program Manager, he was responsible for the planning and coordinating aviation assets in support of White House operations and several other strategic facilities and programs totaling billions of dollars. In 2007, he left the Marine Corps and accepted a Senior Program Manager position in Government Service with senior level responsibilities within the White House Military Office.
Andrew is originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and has a degree from Michigan State University, School of Business. Andrew’s spouse, Kaye, is an attorney who served in several Senior Staff positions to multiple U.S. Senators and Members of Congress for over 20 years on Capitol Hill, and they have three adult children.
