Certified Aviation Services names Scott Whittaker COO

By AI, Created 6:45 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – Certified Aviation Services appointed Scott Whittaker as chief operating officer on May 21, 2026, expanding leadership around maintenance, repair and overhaul operations. The move is aimed at tightening execution, safety, quality and customer support as the company grows.

Why it matters: - Scott Whittaker will oversee Certified Aviation Services’ core operating engine, including hangar maintenance, line operations and the global AOG Go-Team. - The appointment is designed to support growth while reinforcing safety, quality, execution and service performance. - CAS serves airline and OEM customers worldwide, so operational leadership has direct impact on turnaround times, reliability and customer support.

What happened: - Certified Aviation Services, LLC appointed Scott Whittaker as chief operating officer on May 21, 2026. - Whittaker brings more than 40 years of experience in aviation, aerospace and transportation. - He will have full accountability for operational performance, execution, safety, quality and service excellence. - Brad Caban, CEO of Certified Aviation Services, said Whittaker’s experience and leadership will help strengthen operations and support the company’s growth.

The details: - Before joining CAS, Whittaker was vice president and Operational Excellence Focus Area Leader at Vector. - At Vector, he established and grew the Operational Excellence practice, led transformation initiatives and helped drive customer savings and performance improvements. - His prior leadership roles include Safran/Zodiac Services Americas, Fokker Airinc, Fokker Services, Chromalloy Power Services Corporation and Delta Air Lines. - His career spans operational strategy, Lean and Six Sigma, quality systems, supply chain, customer and supplier management, business development and performance improvement. - CAS said his work has delivered gains in turnaround time, on-time delivery, cost reduction, customer satisfaction and EBITDA growth. - Whittaker holds an MBA in Aerospace and Defense from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University. - He is an active FAA Airframe and Powerplant license holder, a Certified Project Manager, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a Six Sigma Green Belt. - Whittaker also has formal Lean and Theory of Constraints training and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. - CAS said Whittaker will work closely with CEO Brad Caban and the executive team to align operations with growth goals.

Between the lines: - The hire signals CAS is leaning on a seasoned operations executive to standardize processes as demand and complexity rise. - The emphasis on continuous improvement and measurable performance suggests CAS wants more scale without sacrificing service quality. - Whittaker’s background in airline, maintenance and industrial environments fits a company that depends on fast, dependable MRO execution.

What’s next: - Whittaker is expected to focus on process discipline, customer support and operational alignment with CAS growth plans. - CAS will likely use the new COO role to strengthen its position with airline and OEM customers. - The company said the leadership change will help further position CAS as a trusted MRO partner worldwide.