Aerospace
10 Textron engineering leaders
These ten people hold or have held director, senior director, vice president and senior vice president engineering roles at Textron Aviation, Textron Systems and Textron Aviation Defense, across product, structures, interiors, manufacturing and project engineering. A reader can learn how engineering leaders build and run their teams at an aircraft and defense manufacturer.
Professionals to explore
01—10Albert Dirkzwager
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Product Engineering · Textron Aviation
Senior Director, Product Engineering at Textron Aviation since January 2026. Other Textron Aviation roles include Director - Engineering New Product Development (2020–2026), Director of Structural Integrity, Structural & System Test and Simulation (2019–2020) and Director of Engineering - Integrated Functions (2017–2019); the profile describes a focus on new product development.
Chris Hearne
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Of Engineering · Textron Aviation
Senior Vice President Of Engineering at Textron Aviation since March 2019, in Wichita, Kansas. Other Textron Aviation roles include Vice President, Product Support (2018–2019), Vice President, Quality Assurance (2016–2018) and Vice President, Jets and Interior Engineering (2014–2016); Chris Hearne was also Director of Customer Service Technical Engineering at Cessna Aircraft Company (2013–2014).
Gregg Shimp
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Engineering · Textron Systems
Former Vice President of Engineering at Textron Systems (January 2014 to September 2016), in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Gregg Shimp has been Director Of Engineering at Moog Avionics since March 2022, and was formerly Director Of Engineering at Twenty-Six Defense (2020–2022), Vice President, Integrated Operations at Lycoming Engines (2016–2019) and Director, Test and Operations at Bell Flight (2012–2014).
Jeff Johannsmeyer
LinkedInExperience: Director, Interiors Engineering · Textron Aviation
Director, Interiors Engineering at Textron Aviation since May 2025, in Wichita, Kansas. Jeff Johannsmeyer's other Textron Aviation roles include Sr. Project Chief Engineer, Citation Ascend (2022–2025), Sr. Engineering Manager, Propulsion Mechanical Systems (2019–2022) and Engineering Manager - Propulsion and Pneumatic Systems (2016–2017).
Kim Burton
LinkedInExperience: Director, Project Engineering · Textron Aviation
Director, Project Engineering at Textron Aviation since March 2023, in Wichita, Kansas; the profile headline calls the role Director, Sustaining Project Engineering. Kim Burton was also Customer Service Manager, Turboprop Support (2018–2023), Manager Electrical Engineering (2014–2018) and Design engineer, avionics & electrical systems (2002–2014) at Textron Aviation.
Robert Collins
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Textron Aviation Defense
Director of Engineering at Textron Aviation Defense since November 2021; the profile headline describes the role as Director of Engineering for Textron Aviation Defense & Special Missions. Robert Collins was also Senior Engineering Manager (2021), Engineering Manager (2017–2021) and Software Engineering Specialist, ODA UM (2012–2021) at Textron Aviation.
Robyn Harmon
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Textron Systems
Director of Engineering at Textron Systems since February 2023, in Hunt Valley, Maryland; the profile headline places the role in Textron Systems, Sea Systems. Robyn Harmon was also Project Engineer (2016–2024) and Lead Systems Engineer (2013–2016) at Textron Systems, and Lead Payload Engineer Systems Engineer at AAI Corporation (2012–2013).
Stacie Townsend
LinkedInExperience: Director Of Engineering · Textron Aviation
Former Director Of Engineering at Textron Aviation (May 2017 to February 2023), and Vice President Special Missions at Textron Aviation since February 2023. Stacie Townsend was also Propulsion Engineer, Group Lead at Textron Aviation (2014–2017), Section Chief Learjet 85 at Bombardier Learjet (2010–2014) and Manager Experimental Flight Test at Beechcraft (2000–2010).
Steve Haggard
LinkedInExperience: Director of Manufacturing Engineering · Textron Aviation
Director of Manufacturing Engineering at Textron Aviation since February 2024. Steve Haggard was also Director, Components Manufacturing (2017–2024) and Manager, Process Engineering & Transitions (2014–2017) at Textron Aviation, and Supply Chain Sr. Manager - Transitions at Beechcraft (2010–2014).
Travis Cottrell
LinkedInExperience: Director, Engineering - Structural Integrity, System Test & Simulation · Textron Aviation
Director, Engineering - Structural Integrity, System Test & Simulation at Textron Aviation since June 2020. Travis Cottrell's other Textron Aviation roles include Director, Fleet Sales (2018–2020), Vice President, Scorpion Program Management (2016–2018) and Director Of Engineering, Advance Design (2014–2016).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person to the Textron business and engineering area behind your question, since business jet product development, defense systems, manufacturing engineering and sustaining engineering are led by different teams. Check each person's dates before asking how Textron works today, since some roles listed here have ended.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you split engineering resources between new aircraft development and support for aircraft already in service?
- 02What does it take to move a new business aircraft or defense system through certification and flight test?
- 03How do product engineering and manufacturing engineering teams hand off a design into production?
Reaching Textron engineering leaders
How can I contact one of these Textron engineering leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 3 companies: Textron Aviation, Textron Systems and Textron Aviation Defense, based on profile data retrieved on October 5, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Textron engineering leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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