SAVANNAH — Gulfstream has recently named four new directors and a new staff scientist.

Becky Elliott has been named director of final phase operations for Gulfstream’s manufacturing facility in Savannah. In this position, she will oversee the final phase manufacturing — interior completions and exterior paint — for the G350, G450, G500 and G550 models of Gulfstream business jets.

Prior to this appointment, Elliott was the manager of the final phase integrated product team. A nine-year employee, she has served as an industrial engineer, a final phase team manager and a production manager for both GIV and GV electrical systems and GV structures and electrical and hydraulic systems.

Elliott earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering technology from Georgia Southern University, where she also earned a master of technology degree, with an emphasis in industrial management.
Elliott, her husband Mark and their two children live in Guyton.   

Charles Etter has been promoted to staff scientist, environmental and regulatory affairs, Gulfstream. In this new position, he will be responsible for monitoring proposed environmental changes that could impact the certification and operation of Gulfstream’s line of business jets.

An 11-year employee, Etter has 20 years of experience in aerospace acoustics. Most recently, he led Gulfstream’s acoustics and vibration group. Etter is a Designated Engineering Representative (DER) authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), specializing in noise and vibration.

Etter earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Texas State University. As a nine-year member of the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industry Association, he has represented Gulfstream’s environmental interests in the international arena. He also is affiliated with the national Business Aviation Association, the Aircraft Noise Concern Committee, NASA and the FAA’s Research, Engineering and Development Advisory Committee.

Etter, his wife Susie and their two children live in Rincon.

Mark Ard has been promoted to director and chief engineer for advanced aircraft programs, Gulfstream. A nine-year employee, Ard most recently served as the lead on the airframe and design Product Development Team (PDT).  He has held leadership roles in Gulfstream’s Engineering organization on various programs, including the GIV Swedish Air Force, the GV Development Program, and the proposal phase of the Aerial Common Sensor program. Ard also served as a senior stress engineer and Designated Authorization Station (DAS) authorized representative in Final Phase Engineering.

Ard is a Designated Engineering Representative (DER), authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for structural engineering. Before joining Gulfstream, Ard spent 12 years working as a structural engineer on various military aircraft programs including the C-5B and C-130 cargo planes, the A-6 attack aircraft and the F-14 and F-22 fighter jets.

Ard earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Clark Bristol has been named director of advanced procurement, Gulfstream.  In this new position, he will oversee the procurement activities for all new research and development programs as well as Gulfstream’s sustaining mid-cabin programs. For the past three years, Bristol has served as director of final phase materials.  

A nine-year employee, Bristol has served as a subcontract administrator, a material senior project manager for the PlaneView™ flight deck program, purchasing manager for avionics and mechanical systems, and senior manager for propulsion, avionics and structures.

While completing his bachelor’s degree in general studies from Louisiana State University, Bristol earned honors as a distinguished graduate of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Bristol served in the U.S. Army, including a tour during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, as an aviation commander.

Jim Diez has joined Gulfstream as director of final phase materials for Gulfstream’s manufacturing facility in Savannah. In this position, he will oversee the planning, procurement and control of all materials used during the final phase of business-jet manufacturing.

Diez comes to Gulfstream from the Ford Motor Company, where he worked for the past 14 years. While at Ford, he worked in various procurement positions, including as a purchasing specialist, core buyer for fuel and brake lines and most recently, material cost manager for global procurement. Prior to Ford, Diez worked for the Supreme Gear Company as plant manager of its Roseville, Mich., facility; and for Emerson Electric’s Electronics and Space Division as a senior design engineer and senior manufacturing specialist.

A certified Six Sigma green belt, Diez earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich., and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Missouri-Rolla.