Learn more about our other Greenwich Aerogroup companies
Summit Aviation has named Schon Kohnen plant manager for its Greensboro, North Carolina, manufacturing facility and Kalvin Houghblack director of quality, overseeing quality operations at the company’s facilities in Greensboro and Middletown, Delaware.
Kohnen has more than 28 years of manufacturing experience, including more than 20 years in aerospace. Most recently, he served as director of business operations for Missouri Metals, a high-mix, low-volume aerospace manufacturer serving Tier 1 and OEM customers. In that role, he led efforts to improve operational performance and recover production schedules.
Prior to Missouri Metals, Kohnen held multiple manufacturing roles at Boeing. He began as a mechanic on the F-18 Super Hornet program, where he also supported the launch of the Growler electronic warfare aircraft and Australian F-18 programs. He later served as a manufacturing operations manager for the F-15 program, leading production departments and supporting aircraft delivery schedules for the U.S. Air Force and international defense customers.
Houghblack has more than 22 years of aviation experience in aircraft maintenance, aerospace manufacturing, quality assurance, lean manufacturing and regulatory compliance. Most recently, he served as senior quality manager for Pratt & Whitney AutoAir Inc.’s ground and aftermarket geared turbofan division, where he led quality teams and strengthened operational processes.
Earlier in his career, Houghblack served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a CH-46 mechanic and later worked as a flight engineer for DynCorp, conducting maintenance test flights. He also held maintenance leadership and field mechanic roles with Sky Aviation and Columbia Helicopters.
Houghblack holds a Master of Science in lean manufacturing from Kettering University, a master’s certificate in lean manufacturing from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University. He also holds AS9110C and AS9100D lead auditor certifications and an FAA airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate.
