Rohloff Becoming New Textron Aviation CEO as Ron Draper Retires | Aviation International News

Training and Workforce

Rohloff New Textron Aviation CEO as Ron Draper Retires

Draper to stay until the end of the year to smooth the transition

Ron Draper, Textron Aviation president and CEO — Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper is handing over the reins to Brian Rohloff on Aug. 31, 2026.

By Matt Thurber • Editor-in-Chief

August 24, 2026

Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper has announced his retirement today after eight years as the leader of Textron Aviation and 27 years at parent company Textron Inc. Brian Rohloff, senior v-p of customer support, will succeed him as president and CEO of Textron Aviation on August 31, while Draper will remain with the company until the end of the year to support the transition.

A former U.S. Army captain, company commander, and Black Hawk helicopter pilot, Draper holds a fixed-wing commercial pilot certificate. He began his career with Textron as Cessna Aircraft’s director of supply-chain management in 1999, then starting in 2004 became Bell’s director of procurement. In 2008, Draper joined Textron’s E-Z-GO business—now Textron Specialized Vehicles—as the supply-chain v-p before moving back to Cessna in 2011 as director of production control and logistics and in 2012 as senior v-p of integrated supply chain.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Textron Aviation

AINsight: Build the Bridge before They Leave

“Thirty years of judgment does not fit neatly into an exit interview”

Training and Workforce

back of head of old man

NBAA Taps Interim Head as Bolen Seeks Medical Treatment

S-v-p Dan Hubbard takes the reins with BACE looming

Training and Workforce

NBAA interim chief operations officer Dan Hubbard

NBAA-BACE To Set Stage for ‘Shark Tank’ Type Competition

Alpha Wingman to bring its PitchAv competition to BACE

Training and Workforce

woman pitching in front of audience

Pathfinder Places Loft H125 VR Simulator in Anchorage

With 360-viewing, the device gives pilots a realistic picture of the outside world

Training and Workforce

Pathfinder Aviation Airbus AStar helicopter

Safety, Leadership Development Courses Added to BACE

Course fees include NBAA-BACE 2026 registration

Training and Workforce

NBAA said its 2026 NBAA-BACE Professional Development Program lineup includes four new courses designed to strengthen leadership and safety culture.

CrewBlast Co-Pilot AI Tool Analyzes Candidate Feedback

Reports flag pay, schedule, relocation friction points

Training and Workforce

a computer screen showing CrewBlast

Farnborough Airport Recruits More Operations Trainees

London-area airport is starting its third training program

Training and Workforce

Farnborough Airport

Twelfth Girls in Aviation Day Expects 34,500 Attendees

Events planned across 27 countries and activities include tailwheel build, flight planning

Training and Workforce

Women in Aviation International plans 200 Girls in Aviation Day events on September 19, reaching girls across four continents.