ERLANGER, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delta Private Jets has appointed industry veterans Jeff Mihalic as President & Chief Executive Officer and Lee Gossett as Senior Vice President – Operations & Chief Operating Officer, effective October 2018.
Mihalic replaces Gary Hammes, who has taken a new leadership role in Delta Air Lines Technical Operations and is serving on the Board of Directors for Delta Private Jets to allow for a smooth transition.
“Delta Private Jets is a thriving organization built on best industry practices of taking care of our clients and our people better than anyone else,” Mihalic said. “Since taking on this role, I have been meeting with our employees and clients to understand their perspective on our business so that we can deliver on our long-standing commitment to superior luxury travel.”
Gossett said he is excited to work with Mihalic on the Delta Private Jets leadership team.
“Our clients expect and deserve the best operational performance in the business,” Gossett said. “I look forward to working closely with Jeff to support our incredible team in building on our offering to drive business growth for the long term.”
A 40-year aviation industry veteran, Mihalic brings a wealth of leadership experience that will help Delta Private Jets continue to grow. He joined Delta in 2015 to launch Delta Material Services (DMS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. He had been President of DMS and served on its Board of Directors before assuming his current position.
Prior to joining Delta, Mihalic was Senior Vice President of Greenwich AeroGroup, where he led three portfolio companies providing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and manufacturing services in the corporate and military aviation sectors for Boeing, Dassault, Pilatus and Sikorsky.
Before that, Mihalic was Senior Vice President – Operations for Q Aviation, a commercial aircraft leasing business. Mihalic also served as the President and CEO of Intermet Corporation, an automotive components manufacturer.
Mihalic’s experience also includes a stint as Vice President and General Manager of Customer Service for Commercial Aircraft at Bombardier Aerospace, leading an international team of 1,200 employees. There, Mihalic was responsible for supporting Bombardier’s worldwide fleet of commercial aircraft and profit centers for training, spare parts and aircraft maintenance.
Prior to Bombardier, Mihalic held several senior management positions with United Airlines in the company’s surplus aircraft sales group, as well as key roles in engine maintenance operations and strategic planning. Mihalic began his career at Boeing as an engineer responsible for the implementation of interior manufacturing processes and flight line operations supporting the introduction of the company’s 767 model airplane.
Mihalic earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Puget Sound.
A dynamic leader, Gossett is responsible for driving operational excellence, safety, and regulatory compliance throughout all areas of the business. As COO, Gossett will develop teams that drive superior results for Delta Private Jets’ clients and develop future leaders.
Gossett is responsible for the safe and compliant execution of all maintenance, flight operations and system operations related activities for Delta Private Jets. He also serves as the Director of Maintenance (DOM) for the operating certificate and all regulatory activities.
Gossett joined Delta Private Jets after spending 26 years at Delta Air Lines, where he served as Vice President of Line Maintenance. There he managed a budget of more than $600 million, oversaw maintenance on nearly 800 aircraft and managed more than 3,800 employees worldwide. Gossett led his team to record levels of on-time departures and achieved the lowest cancellation rate for maintenance. Gossett also served as Delta’s DOM for 10 years.
Gossett is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as a B-52 mechanic. He holds an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic license and an Associate’s Degree from Louisiana Tech and The Community College of the Air Force. He has also completed Emory University’s Executive Development Program at Goizueta Business School.
About Delta Private Jets
Delta Private Jets, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), provides aircraft charter services, aircraft management, and its distinctive membership programs, the Delta Private Jets Card and Sky Access. The company operates an FBO (Fixed Base Operation), the Delta Jet Center, at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), as well as Tech Service Centers located at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) which provide comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility (MRO). Delta Private Jets combines more than 30 years of experience serving the needs of luxury travelers for business and pleasure with the resources of one of the world's largest airlines to provide a truly innovative travel solution. With more than 70 WI-FI equipped aircraft in the fleet (light, mid-size, super-midsize and large), Delta Private Jets consistently receives awards for outstanding client service and has continuously held the coveted ARGUS Platinum safety rating longer than any other operator in the world. Flights are operated by Delta Private Jets, Inc., an FAA-certificated Part 135 air carrier, or by another FAA-certificated Part 135 or Part 121 air carrier. Additional information is available at deltaprivatejets.com.