Brian Rohloff Begins Tenure as Textron Aviation President and CEO

Kansas, USA – US aircraft manufacturer Textron Aviation has begun a new leadership period with Brian Rohloff assuming the role of President and CEO on August 31, 2026, succeeding retiring chief executive Ron Draper.

• Rohloff brings 29 years of experience with Textron Aviation and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Customer Support, overseeing the company’s global customer support operations.
• His previous leadership positions have included Vice President, Quality; Vice President, Sales; Senior Product Director for the Citation XLS+ and Citation X; and Director of Paint Operations. Textron Aviation said his wider career has also included work across manufacturing, parts and finance.
• Rohloff succeeds Ron Draper, who is retiring after more than 27 years with Textron, including eight years as President and CEO of Textron Aviation. Draper is scheduled to remain with the company as a senior adviser through the end of 2026 to support the transition.
• Rohloff assumes leadership while the group is expanding its activity in the ab-initio training-aircraft market. In July 2026, Pipistrel, a Textron company and Textron Aviation affiliate, named Epic Flight Academy as launch customer for the Voyager trainer under an agreement covering 10 firm aircraft for deliveries beginning in 2027 and options for up to another 40 aircraft across 2028 and 2029.
• Textron Aviation also continues to support flight-school operators through the Cessna Skyhawk. Its 2026 Top Hawk programme selected five training organisations and universities, taking the number of factory-new Skyhawks placed into training environments through the programme to 55 since its launch in 2015. 

Statements

• “As a leader, I strive to be connected, curious and accountable. Accountability starts with me and making sure I deliver what I say I am going to deliver. When we understand the mission and what is expected of us, we can deliver greater value to our customers,” said Brian Rohloff, President and CEO of Textron Aviation.
• “I want people to know they can expect me to be accessible, engaged and committed to listening. Our success has always started with great people, strong customer relationships and a dedication to doing things the right way. Those principles will continue to guide me as we build on the company’s strong foundation together,” said Brian Rohloff, President and CEO of Textron Aviation.

Source: Textron Aviation