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A new general manager has been appointed to lead the Lockheed Martin subsidiary’s sustainment operations in Australia.
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Malcolm Wright has been appointed as Sikorsky Australia’s new general manager, replacing Rodhan Gibbon, who served as interim GM.
The new appointee, who assumed the role on 1 July, will be responsible for overseeing Sikorsky’s sustainment services to the Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk fleet, the Australian Army’s S-70A-9 Black Hawk fleet, and regional Sikorsky helicopter operators.
Wright will lead 250 Sikorsky employees across six locations around Australia, particularly from the company’s headquarters in Nowra, NSW.
The GM has over 20 years’ experience in national security, which has included service with the RAN, Customs and Border Protection, and the Australian Public Service Commission.
Wright most recently served as Lockheed Martin’s director, navy aviation acquisition programs, managing the procurement of 24 Sikorsky Seahawk Romeo helicopters for the RAN.
Wright’s military service involved both training and operational roles, including an exchange in the UK as a helicopter warfare instructor, development of maritime counter-terrorist helicopter operations in Australia, and command of RAN Helicopter Squadron 816 (Sikorsky Seahawk Squadron).
“Malcolm’s extensive service in Australian aviation, brings significant experience and expertise to the Sikorsky Australia team,” Joe North, chief executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, said.
“I congratulate Malcolm on his appointment to general manager Sikorsky Australia – he is no stranger to Sikorsky helicopters and military aviation operations.
“Together with his combined experience and passion for defence aviation, I am assured that our longstanding and trusted partnership with the Australian Defence Force to keep the Seahawk and Black Hawk helicopters in the skies on mission will continue.”
Commenting on his appointment, Wright added, “I am excited to be taking on the leadership of Sikorsky Australia, we have a proven track record as a rotary-wing sustainment partner to the Commonwealth of Australia.
“I am proud of the team we have in place providing the sovereign industrial capability priority of aerospace platform deeper maintenance and structural integrity.
“I look forward to working closely with our highly skilled engineers, logistics and support staff maintaining Australian Sikorsky military helicopters along with providing regional military and commercial maintenance repair and overhaul services.”
Wright assumed the role as GM just two months after the US Navy awarded a $10 million contract extension to Sikorsky Australia for the local sustainment of the RAN’s fleet of 24 MH-60R Romeo multi-mission helicopters.
The sustainment contract, delivered through a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement with the US Navy, forms part of a broader push to enhance opportunities for Australian industries.
[Related: Sikorsky Australia wins $10m MH-60R Romeo contract]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
