Charles R. Shanklin

Charles R. "Chuck" Shanklin is president and CEO of L-3 Crestview Aerospace (formerly Crestview Aerospace Corp.) and a director of both L-3 Crestview Aerospace and Tepper Aviation. His father, Charles E. Shanklin, former CEO and president of Crestview Aerospace, "bought the Crestview, Fla.-based company out of bankruptcy in 1990." 

According to his L-3 profile, Shanklin "oversees the daily operations, strategic planning and positioning for the division’s long-term growth. Crestview Aerospace has grown from 13 employees in 1991 to more than 1,200 employees today, making it the largest private employer in Okaloosa County, Florida. Mr. Shanklin’s involvement with the aviation industry began in 1988 as marketing manager for Artais, an automated airport weather observation system manufacturer. In 1990, he became president of Artais, where he led the firm’s market share from 35 percent to 80 percent and established an international market presence that included China, Taiwan, Egypt and Thailand. Mr. Shanklin joined Crestview Aerospace as vice president to establish the Aircraft Modification Division in 1998. Since his arrival, he has focused on developing strategic alliances with prime contractors to the U.S. Department of Defense, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. He has also served as a board member of Crestview Aerospace since 1991. In June 2004, board members promoted Chuck Shanklin to president of Crestview Aerospace."