Accomplished aerospace veteran to lead Hydra-Electric to long-term growth with superior sensor and switch technologies.
Burbank, CA – July 8, 2015 — Hydra-Electric Company, a trusted provider of breakthrough sensing technology for the aerospace industry, announced today the appointment of David E. Schmidt as chief executive officer. Schmidt succeeds Lewis H. Stanton, who had been serving as interim CEO.
“After a long and thorough search for a permanent CEO, the board of directors is delighted to have David assume this role,” said Gregory Chiampou, Hydra-Electric board member. “David brings with him deep industry expertise, a metrics-driven management style and a proven track record of successfully leading aerospace companies.”
“I am honored to have been chosen by the board to lead the Company as it enters a new phase of unprecedented growth and expansion,” said Schmidt. “For over 65 years, Hydra-Electric has delivered superior product quality and innovative technologies in its pressure and temperature switches. In recent years, Hydra’s advanced sensor technology has achieved technological advancements in performance and reliability, which have tremendous long-term potential for growth.”
Schmidt recently served as president of Hartzell Aerospace where his leadership delivered extraordinary growth and profitability, resulting in the company’s acquisition by ITT (NYSE:ITT) earlier this year. Schmidt’s 30-year aerospace career includes prior executive positions within Meggitt PLC and Esterline Technologies Corporation. Schmidt holds a B.S. in technology from Roger Williams College, an M.B.A. from Loyola Marymount University, and a post-graduate degree in business economics from Aston University (UK).
Lewis Stanton, having completed his tenure as interim CEO, will resume his role as Managing Partner of Stanton Associates LLC, a management consulting firm.
Hydra-Electric is a trusted provider of reliable technology in sensors and switches in the aerospace industry. Its proven solutions include: pressure, temperature and multi-function sensors; and pressure, temperature and liquid flow switches. Hydra’s high performance sensing technologies are able to address problems which were previously thought to be unsolvable, including: pressure-spike damage, pump ripple, high-speed impulses, burst diaphragms, and broken wire bonds to name a few.
The Company has been an innovator in the aerospace industry since 1948 when it introduced the Negative Rate Disc Spring design that remains the global standard today for aerospace pressure switches. Hydra-Electric’s products are found in demanding military and commercial applications, including fixed and rotary wing aircraft, missiles, space launch platforms, ships and submarines, armored vehicles and UCAVs.