Astra Consulting

David Walker

David Walker is the founding partner and Chief Executive Officer of Astra Consulting. Previously, Mr. Walker was Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer and Business Development for Spirit AeroSystems. He was responsible for leading the Spirit technical team and working with customers worldwide. In addition to having corporate responsibility for Engineering, Program Management and Business Development, he was also the Managing Director (Chairman) for the Spirit Progresstech Joint Venture in Russia. Since he joined the company in 2005 Spirit grew from a $3B global aerospace provider to $7B and added 5 major aerospace customers.

Before Spirit Mr. Walker was Corporate Vice President at Vought Aircraft Industries with responsibility for international programs. He came to Vought with its purchase of the Nashville-based The Aerostructures Corp. in 2003. In 18 years with The Aerostructures (divested by Textron), he held executive manufacturing, program management and marketing positions, including Vice President/General Manager. Additionally, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Aerostructures Corporation (A Carlyle Group Company) and participated in the sale of the business.

Mr. Walker graduated Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and an honors fellowship Master’s Degree in Engineering. He also attended the Textron Executive Development Program at Harvard Business School.

A native of Tennessee, Mr. Walker enjoys golf, snow skiing, and woodworking. He and his wife, Anne, have two children and two grandchildren. He is a board member of the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering’s Board of Visitors.

Gordon McConell

Gordon McConnell has over 40 years of experience in the aviation industry. Before Astra, he was the SVP and Chief Engineer at Airbus, where he led teams for Airbus A350XWB family, Engineering Integration Centre, and was Chief Engineer for the Twin Aisle Aircraft projects including the A300, A310, A330 and A340 aircraft programmes.

Before Airbus, Mr. McConnell was the Technical Director, British Aerospace Regional Aircraft. He led the integration of the Prestwick and Woodford engineering teams to manage the Avro RJ and Jetstream aircraft programmes. He began at Scottish Aviation Ltd, which later became British Aerospace.

Mr. McConnell graduated from Paisley College of Technology in Scotland with an Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He received the Royal Aeronautical Society's Gold Medal in 2014, the Council of European Aerospace Societies Gold Award in 2016, and the Institute of Engineering Designers Alex Moulton Award in 2016. Mr. McConnell is married with a son and daughter, and spent his formative years in Ayr, Scotland.

Rodney Webber

Rod Webber has over 35 year of experience in aviation and engineering. His engineering leadership positions include Boeing 737, 747, 757, 777, 787 programs and the V-22 programs.

Before joining Astra, he was Vice President - Chief Engineering at Spirit AeroSystems where he managed engineering for the Boeing Platforms and Business Jet Programs. Previously, Mr. Webber was Sr. Engineering Director for the Fuselage Business Unit, responsible for the Boeing Commercial models and CH-53K Sikorsky Program. Mr. Webber was also the Product Definition Manager on the 747 Special Freighter Conversion Program with Boeing Airplane Services.

Prior to joining Spirit AeroSystems, he spent 21 years with the Boeing Company and Bell Helicopter Company.

Mr. Webber has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in 1980 and various certificates from Boeing Senior Leadership Center.