Red Oak-based Qarbon Aerospace, which makes advanced composite aerostructures and assemblies for the world’s premier commercial, defense, and space programs, named Edward “Stevie” Smith as chief growth officer, effective immediately.
In the newly created role, Smith will oversee the company’s global growth strategy, business development, capture management, and strategic partnership initiatives, reporting directly to CEO Michael Canario.
“I am excited to welcome Stevie Smith to the Qarbon Aerospace executive leadership team,” Canario said in a statement. “Stevie’s extraordinary record of winning and expanding some of the largest and most complex aerospace programs in the world—combined with his deep customer relationships across the DoD, international partners, and industry—makes him uniquely qualified to lead our next phase of growth in commercial, defense, and space markets.”
Smith joins Qarbon Aerospace after nine years at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, most recently serving as Director, F-35 Strategic Initiatives & Business Development. In that role, he led teams in expanding the F-35 program into emerging international markets, securing Foreign Military Sales (FMS) opportunities, and driving domestic growth across the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air National Guard. Previously, he directed international F-35 marketing campaigns and served as the U.S. Navy Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Program Manager within Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.
A retired U.S. Navy Officer and naval aviator with over 25 years of military and industry leadership experience, Smith commanded elite organizations including TOPGUN, Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-34 (the “Blue Blasters”), and the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center’s Strike Branch. His operational commands included worldwide combat deployments and large-scale tactical training programs.
“I’m honored to join Qarbon Aerospace and its world-class team,” Smith said. “With nearly two million square feet of Tier-1 fabrication and assembly capability across three state-of-the-art facilities and a proven track record delivering large, complex structures for the most demanding programs, Qarbon is uniquely positioned to capture the next generation of aerostructures opportunities. I look forward to working alongside our customers and this exceptional team to secure and execute those critical programs.”
Qarbon Aerospace provides large, complex composite and metallic structural components and assemblies such as fuselages, wings, flight control surfaces, and engine nacelles, and components. The company operates nearly two million square feet of factory space across three facilities located in the Dallas suburb of Red Oak; Milledgeville, Georgia; and Rayong, Thailand.
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