Chief Executive Officer: Top Recruiters in Rockford, Illinois

Rockford is a hidden gem of U.S. aerospace manufacturing, home to Woodward's aerospace actuation and fuel systems, Hamilton Sundstrand's legacy operations, and a dense cluster of precision component manufacturers serving major aerospace primes.

The Chief Executive Officer of an aerospace and defense enterprise bears ultimate accountability for enterprise strategy, P&L performance across government and commercial portfolios, and relationships with the Pentagon, service acquisition commands, and strategic partners. This executive drives program capture, governs classified program portfolios, and ensures the organization maintains rigorous compliance with ITAR, FAR/DFARS, and DoD security requirements.

• Define and execute long-range corporate strategy aligned with DoD budget cycles, customer priorities, and emerging threat landscapes
• Own full P&L accountability across business units and programs, typically spanning -+ in annual revenue
• Build and maintain senior relationships at the Pentagon, major commands, and with prime contractor leadership
• Lead enterprise-level capture strategy for major defense programs including LPTA, Best Value, and Other Transaction Authority mechanisms
• Govern classified program portfolios under SAP/SAR authorities, maintaining security oversight standards
• Ensure enterprise-wide compliance with ITAR, EAR, FAR, DFARS, and NIST SP 800-171/CMMC requirements
• Manage Board of Directors relationships, investor communications, and strategic parent reporting
• Drive talent acquisition and retention strategy for cleared technical and program management professionals
• Lead mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships to expand capability portfolio and customer access
• Champion a culture of mission excellence, ethical compliance, and continuous operational improvement

• 20+ years of progressive A&D leadership with at least 5 years at the executive level
• Demonstrated P&L management of or greater within a DoD-oriented business
• Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance or clearance eligibility strongly preferred
• Deep familiarity with government contracting mechanisms: CPFF, FFP, T&M, and IDIQ
• Proven track record of winning and executing major defense programs from proposal through delivery
• Strong network within OSD, service headquarters, major commands, and the prime contractor ecosystem

• Strategic Vision: Ability to align organizational capabilities with evolving national security priorities
• Government Customer Relations: Fluency in the Pentagon acquisition process and program office dynamics
• Financial Acumen: Expertise in defense program financial management, EVM, and contract portfolio optimization
• Organizational Resilience: Proven ability to navigate program restructures, CR environments, and workforce transitions
• Ethics Leadership: Unwavering commitment to ITAR compliance, procurement integrity, and ethical contracting

Nexoval Search Partners's dedicated Aerospace & Defense practice maintains active relationships with the executive talent community across Rockford and the broader Illinois market. Our consultants conduct thorough market mapping of available passive and active candidates across the region's leading employers, from established industry leaders to innovative growth companies. Every engagement includes confidential outreach, rigorous competency-based assessment, and candidate presentation within 45 to 60 days of engagement launch. Nexoval Search Partners's retained search model and one-year replacement guarantee ensure every executive we place in Rockford, Illinois delivers long-term organizational value.