Matt recently joined Aerospace Composites Solutions (ACS) as President and an Investor. Over the last 40 years he has invested in companies operating in the Aviation and Commercial Finance markets where he has held leadership roles in the development and successful expansion of multiple businesses. As an original founder and investor in Blackhawk Aerospace (Blackhawk), Matt served as Chairman of the Blackhawk Business Units for over 23 years.He worked directly with senior leadership members of Blackhawk in developing key relationships in supply chain, banking, and international distribution to ensure the company’s profitable operations and growth expansion. Shieman holds an MBA in finance, a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and is a licensed CPA.
Dale Griffin recently joined Aerospace Composites Solutions (ACS) as Director and Investor. Dale Griffin’s professional career has transitioned over 40-plus years from corporate finance and investment management to aviation-related ventures both as an investor and an owner. After spending 13 years at AIM (now Invesco) Mutual Funds as a founder of their International Equity Funds, Griffin left in 2003 to focus on his aircraft charter and maintenance business. A co-founder of Blackhawk Aerospace (Blackhawk), he now serves on the board of New State Aviation Holdings, the majority owner of Blackhawk since 2022. Griffin holds an MBA in finance and certifications as a certified public accountant and chartered financial analyst.
As CFO at Aerospace Composites Solutions, Sean James oversees the company’s accounting, finance, and management reporting activities. His background includes more than 35 years of experience in financial operations and management. A certified public accountant, he has worked in a number of industries designing, implementing, and operating systems and processes that support and strengthen finance and human resources departments.
Melissa joined the Aerospace Composites Solutions team as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Administration in February 2024. Melissa has over 25 years of senior level leadership experience within various large, multi-state organizations and industries including manufacturing, third-party logistics, and pharmaceuticals. She is responsible for leadership and oversight of the company’s administrative functions as well as all human resources functions,which also includes environmental, health and safety and employee training and development. She is a member of the Executive Committee.
Melissa graduated from Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky with a BS in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Human Resources Development and holds two professional certifications, Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).
Eric joined the Aerospace Composite Solutions team as the Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Operations in August 2024. With over 26 years of experience in manufacturing leadership, Eric is a proven expert in driving operational excellence and delivering exceptional results.
As Vice President of Operations, Eric is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s manufacturing processes, ensuring efficient production, quality control, and continuous improvement. His extensive background in lean manufacturing, six sigma, and standardized operating systems has enabled him to successfully lead significant cultural and process transformations in previous roles.
Prior to joining Aerospace Composite Solutions, Eric held senior leadership positions at renowned companies such as RC Components, Inc. and Holley Performance Products. In these roles, he demonstrated a consistent ability to optimize operations, improve profitability, and introduce innovative manufacturing technologies.
Bill Smrtic brings not only pride of ownership to Aerospace Composites Services, but also a strong determination to build the highest quality products possible, following his motto: “We will find a way.” His strong background in composites includes aerospace, wind energy, and the automotive industries. Smrtic’s expertise with out-of-autoclave processing techniques helps ACS offer a lower cost solution for customers’ complex requirements. His technical expertise extends into development and fabrication of high-quality composite tooling utilizing conventional laminating and VARTM techniques. He is also skilled in using FaroArm coordinate measurement equipment to inspect or reverse engineer products.
Steve Ell has an impressive background in manufacturing engineering and production, having served in leadership positions at Cirrus Aircraft Company, NORDAM and Wurth Electronics Midcom. In his current position at ACS, he oversees engineering and production to ensure lean, safe, and economic processes, including working with customers to providing engineering advice to customers to help ensure product success. He is a Six Sigma Green Belt. Ell earned a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota.
Deanna Deweese brings close to a decade of manufacturing accounting experience to ACS, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a focus on accounting from Sullivan University. As a key member of ACS, she oversees the company’s accounting and financial reporting processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Deanna also manages the purchasing and supply chain functions, optimizing operations and inventory management. Her dedication, analytical skills, and comprehensive understanding of manufacturing accounting make her an invaluable asset. With a commitment to professionalism and integrity, Deanna effectively communicates complex financial information, enhancing transparency and supporting informed decision-making at ACS.
n his position as quality manager, Alan Thompson is responsible for all aspects of ACS’s quality system including daily inspections, PMA, export documentation, implementation, and continuous improvement of AS-9100 certification and systems, and preproduction and production planning of quality related issues. With a mechanical engineering career spanning 26 years in automotive and 12 years in the aerospace industry, his background includes program and project management, design analysis, and implementation of new product manufacturing processes. This diverse background makes him a valuable asset in cross functional environments where a broad knowledge base is required.
James Blancett brings extensive experience as an aviation structural mechanic and non-destructive inspection technician from his 11-year service in the U.S. Navy. Having worked on and inspected aircraft worldwide, including deployments to Japan, Germany, Afghanistan, and Iraq, James possesses a wealth of expertise in aviation maintenance and inspection. After his military career, he joined Honeywell as a non-destructive inspection technician before becoming a crucial member of the ACS team. In his current role, James oversees the company’s Quality Inspection processes, ensuring strict compliance with the company’s AS9100 certified standards, thus upholding the highest levels of quality assurance.
