NEWS - Manufacturing

Greg Collett And Austin Shontz Responsible For Initial- and Final-Phase Operations

From Staff Reports

(Sept. 22, 2010) - Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has appointed two new vice presidents to oversee production at the company’s six U.S. locations. Greg Collett has been promoted to vice president of Initial Phase Operations, and Austin Shontz has been named vice president of Final Phase Operations. They report to Dennis Stuligross, senior vice president, Operations, Gulfstream.

In his new role, Collett oversees Initial Phase Manufacturing of Gulfstream’s large-cabin aircraft, which include the Gulfstream G650, G550 and G450. He is also responsible for Advanced Programs, Advanced Manufacturing Technology and operations at the Mexicali facility, where Gulfstream makes wiring harnesses, sheet metal components, sub-assemblies and machined parts used in the manufacturing process.

Collett brings a wealth of manufacturing experience to the position. Previously, he served as director of New Product Development and Manufacturing Operations, which included overseeing activities at the company’s G650 manufacturing facility. Before that, he served as director of Final Phase Manufacturing in Savannah, supervising the completion of the company’s large-cabin aircraft. He also served as Gulfstream’s director of initial phase manufacturing.

Collett earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Youngstown State University. Formerly the vice president of Savannah Operations and Final Phase Engineering, Shontz is now responsible for Savannah Final Phase Operations for large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft. He also oversees Final Phase Engineering, Final Phase Research and Development and Interior Design. Additionally, he shares responsibility for Final Phase Material in Savannah and Engineering at Gulfstream facilities in Appleton, Wis.; Long Beach, Calif.; and Dallas.

Shontz joined Gulfstream in 1997 as the director of Manufacturing Operations in Savannah. In 1999, he was named director of Completions Operations for the company’s Long Beach site. He has also served as director of Operations, which encompasses both Final Phase Manufacturing and Product Support, at Gulfstream’s Long Beach facility.

Before joining Gulfstream, Shontz was a deputy general manager for McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Long Beach, where he began his aerospace career in 1986.

Shontz earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University.