EADS North America names Gary M. Bishop to lead its Armed Scout 645 helicopter program

Gary M. Bishop has joined EADS North America as vice president of its Armed Scout 645 program.

EADS North America is offering the Armed Scout 645 combat helicopter to strengthen US Army capabilities in aerial reconnaissance and security during operations in current and future conflicts.

Bishop is a highly experienced helicopter program manager, and served in the US Army where he led aviation and armor units, and performed assignments in the acquisition community.

"Gary Bishop's expertise in leading critical Army helicopter programs - combined with his experience from a 20-year military career - will be extremely valuable as EADS North America continues to offer low risk, highly capable and best-value systems to the US Army," said EADS North America Chief Operating Officer David R. Oliver.

In the private sector, Bishop previously led the industry team responsible for the US Army's Apache Longbow programs at Mesa, Ariz. He managed Apache Longbow remanufacture and new production programs for Block I, Block II, Extended Block II, and Wartime Replacement Aircraft. Bishop was also responsible for the Apache Block III developmental program. Prior to leading US Army programs, Bishop served as the United Kingdom Apache program manager and the acting director for all International Apache Programs for a leading defense company.

Bishop's 34-year career in aviation has included a variety of management positions in areas as diverse as international program management, congressional relations, simulation and digitization, experimental flight test engineering and electronic warfare.

Bishop holds a bachelor's degree from the US Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.; a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the US Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.; and a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the US Naval War College, Newport, R.I. He also is a graduate of the Program Manager's course at the Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, Va.

EADS North America's Armed Scout 645 is based on the same airframe as the highly successful UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter it is currently delivering to the US Army. The world-class industry team assembled by EADS North America for the Armed Scout 645 includes Lockheed Martin as the Mission Equipment Package integrator, and American Eurocopter - which will build the aircraft at its Columbus, Miss., facility where Lakotas are currently manufactured.