Former military and corporate leader was hired in June 2015

The Aerospace Industries Association announced July 13 that CEO David Melcher plans to step down at the end of the year.

Melcher will assist AIA's executive committee in searching for a new CEO, and then with onboarding his successor. The $18-million revenue association does not intend to hire an executive recruiting firm.

Melcher was well known to AIA before becoming CEO in June 2015. As an industry executive, he had previously been a member of AIA's executive and finance committees for four years. He retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant general after a 32-year military career.

Board Chairman Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of The Boeing Company, lauded the organization's many "notable achievements" since Melcher joined AIA.

"Dave's extraordinary vision, leadership and attention to member value enabled AIA to superbly represent our industry to the many constituencies we serve, and increased AIA's worldwide brand recognition with a new administration, Congress and our global counterparts," Muilenburg said in a news release.

Melcher said in the release: "It has also been my great privilege to work with the amazingly dedicated and skilled employees at AIA and with our member company CEOs as we advocated for a strong national defense, robust civil aviation and space programs, a level playing field for international trade, and the creation of a vibrant and capable future workforce."

More information will be in the July 14 issue of CEO Update.