HUNTSVILLE — Avion Solutions President & CEO Chad Donald will retire after 28 years with the company, it was announced. Evan Wagner, Avion vice president and chief operating officer, will succeed him.

“It has been my tremendous honor and privilege to work for and lead Avion Solutions,” Donald said. “I am so proud of our team and the professionalism, excellence, and dedication they bring to supporting our men and women in uniform.

“Working alongside Evan over the past 20 years, I am absolutely confident that the company is in very capable hands under his leadership.”

Donald began his career with Avion as a technical specialist in 1994. He served in various leadership roles, including program manager, director of special projects, and executive vice president before becoming president in 2014 upon the retirement of his father, Gary Donald.

Under Donald, Avion transitioned to a 100% employee-owned company in July 2020. The company has earned numerous blanket purchase agreement contract awards resulting in more than 40 task orders; multiple Small Business of the Year awards; and three Best Places to Work awards.

Wagner has been with Avion for more than 20 years, supporting Army Aviation customers and platforms in the areas of airworthiness, systems engineering, sustainment, aeromechanics, and propulsion. He has led Avion as vice president and COO since 2014, fostering Avion’s maturation from subcontractor to prime contractor, and overseeing its expansion into new program offices and geographies.

“I have learned a lot from Chad and Gary over the years, and I look forward to continuing their legacy of collaborative, customer-focused, community-minded leadership to lead our company and its employee owners into the future,” said Wagner.

Wagner earned his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Stanford and his master’s in mechanical engineering from Oregon State.