B.S. Aerospace engineering, Auburn University, 1980

Ben Durrance began his aviation career with Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems in 1981 as an engineer conducting business risk analyses, developing complex digital models of hardware systems and simulation software for evaluating vulnerability and damage tolerances, and designing and constructing a facility to measure and study vortex flows. In 1988, he took a one-year position with the Federal Aeronautics Administration’s Aircraft Certification Office in Atlanta, where he managed propulsion-related aircraft certification projects for suppliers and operators in Southeastern U.S.

Returning to Lockheed Martin, he held increasingly responsible positions, Systems Engineering Manager, C-130J Software Engineering Process Group Manager, UK C-130J Air Vehicle Product Leader, C-130 AMP Airframe Integrated Product Team Leader, F-16 Aerostructures Manufacturing Assembly Processes Director, Deputy Director of Production Engineering, and Director of Manufacturing Technology.

Mr. Durrance then joined BellAero, the customer support affiliate of Bell Helicopter, in 2005 as Director of Commercial Quality and FAA Relations, where he led a team devising solutions for inefficient operations, defect producing operations, high cost operations and excess inventory. In 2006, he became Director of Operations Strategy and Transformation, leading a team developing an Operations Strategy Roadmap to resolve capacity constraints, improve efficiency and create agility. He was promoted to his current position in 2007, where he is responsible for quality systems, process excellence and Six Sigma implementation