Some of the nation's highest-tech military equipment has a close-to-home component. Renowned (retired) military pilot Lee Obst of Prince George was just announced as managing director for Rockwell Collins Government Systems Canada, a division of multinational Rockwell Collins, which builds a lot of the electronics systems onboard military planes (also many civilian styles of aircraft) of all stripes, and other military vehicles.
According to a statement from the company, Obst "is a former fighter pilot and experimental test pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and has extensive experience in the defence and aerospace business."
As managing director, Obst will oversee the engineering and production of advanced military communications and networking systems built in Ottawa, as well as the introduction of military equipment sold into Canada from Rockwell Collins facilities around the globe.
"Nearly every platform that the Canadian Forces fly has Rockwell Collins equipment onboard," said Obst, who has worked in several roles of increasing responsibility during his 11 years at Rockwell Collins. "This is a homecoming for me and I'm thrilled to work closely with our Canadian military customers to make sure they have the latest technological capabilities."
Employees at the Rockwell Collins Government Systems Canada facilities in Ottawa provide advanced, ad hoc, mobile-networking communications equipment for the Canadian Army and Navy as well as several other Allied forces.
In addition, the facility provides in-country repair and support of Multi-functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals for Canadian Forces CF-18 fighters and overall management of Rockwell Collins' many defence contracts in Canada.
"Lee's leadership skills and experience are key to this position," said Thierry Tosi, vice-president and managing director for the Americas at Rockwell Collins. "Rockwell Collins' presence in Canada is strategic to our international growth and I am sure Lee and his team will help create new opportunities with our Canadian customers."
Rockwell Collins Canada has two main offices - one in Ottawa and the other in Montreal (with links to the Bombardier company). The company employs more than 100 people in Canada.
Their global headquarters is in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where it has been since its inception in 1933 as the supplier of radio communications equipment to the Byrd Expedition to the South Pole.
Today, Rockwell Collins Inc. designs, produces, markets and supports electronic communications, avionics and in-flight entertainment systems for commercial, military and government customers worldwide.
"The relationships we've built with the Canadian aerospace and defence industry over the past few years has already resulted in a more than doubling our business [since 2006]," said Obst.
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