SHEPHARD GIRION NAMED GENERAL MANAGER
FOR AITECH DEFENSE

Chatsworth, CA, August 2009 –Aitech Defense Systems, Inc., the world’s first and largest independent manufacturer of open architecture electronic boards and integrated subsystem level products for harsh aerospace applications, has announced that Shephard Girion has been named general manager. Girion had joined the company as vice president of programs in 2005. In his new position, Girion will be responsible for managing the company’s P&L, building an even stronger customer-focused management infrastructure which maintains excellent customer relations, improving efficiencies and setting metrics for key division objectives.

In his previous position, Girion oversaw the company’s program management process to ensure the successful cost, scheduling, and technical performance of Aitech’s customers’ programs.

Roger Rowe, Aitech president and CEO, commented, “Girion is a skilled and talented manager who has already exhibited great facility in managing programs and policies for Aitech through a period of very rapid sales growth. His proven experience and expertise will continue to serve our customers and our people with great insight and intellect. “

Girion’s extensive industry experience includes serving as director of program management for Curtiss-Wright Controls where he managed development and manufacturing programs totaling $30 million. Previously, he was program manager at Orbital Sciences Corporation, where he led the transition of the full-scale engineering development of the U.S. Army Chemical and Biological Mass Spectrometer.

Through a contract with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Girion served as program manager of the $8 million Chemical and Biological Mass Spectrometer (CBMS) Block II program for the US Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM). While working with SBCCOM, Girion helped to develop new target platforms for the CBMS Block II. He also worked as program manager of the $40 million multiple agent Chemical and Biological Detection System for the US Army Chemical Biological Defense Command (CBDCOM).

Other high visibility programs in which Girion has played crucial management roles include the Advanced Integrated Chemical Protection System for the US Army CBDCOM; the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle NBC Filtration System for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Defense Systems; and the Turret System Electronics Unit, Autoloader Controller, and Replinisher Controller for the Mobile Gun System Variant of US Army Stryker IAV (interim armored vehicle).

Girion holds a BS in Applied Mathematics and an MBA from California State University.