Curtiss-Wright Corporation announces that Martin R. Benante, its chairman and CEO, was honored with the Leroy R. Grumman Award presented by the Cradle of Aviation Museum at its Air & Space Gala. The event was in celebration of 100 years of naval aviation. Benante was presented the award in recognition of his outstanding leadership, technical achievement and personal integrity. The Cradle of Aviation established the Leroy R. Grumman Award to honor the legacy of the founder of Grumman Aerospace Corporation.
In accepting the award Benante said, “I am truly honored to accept the Leroy R. Grumman Award on behalf of all Curtiss-Wright employees. At Curtiss-Wright we are proud of our rich legacy, which stretches from the historic Wright Flyer, to the first landing and take-off of an airplane from an aircraft carrier deck, to the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. As a company we have come a long way from the first flights of yesterday to developing today’s innovative concepts and advanced technology. It has been my pleasure to be involved in the latest chapters of the continuing Curtiss-Wright legacy.”
Benante is a career employee of Curtiss-Wright, having served in various capacities of increasing responsibility since joining the company in 1978. He began his career in program management for the Flight Systems division, the legacy business of Curtiss-Wright, ultimately becoming vice president of operations responsible for hardware production for the Blackhawk helicopter, the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, the F-18 Hornet fighter jet, and the F-16 Falcon fighter jet. He joined the Curtiss-Wright corporate staff in April 1999 as COO and became CEO and chairman in April 2000. During his tenure Curtiss-Wright has increased its sales from approximately $300 million to more than $2 billion projected for 2011, and has acquired over 50 businesses.
The Cradle of Aviation Museum, located in Garden City, New YOrk, is home to one of the world’s most diverse and outstanding aerospace collections. The museum serves over 250,000 visitors each year.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation is an innovative engineering company that provides highly engineered, critical function products, systems and services in the areas of flow control, motion control and metal treatment to the defense, energy, and commercial/industrial markets. The legacy company of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of design and manufacturing innovation along with long-standing customer relationships. The company employs approximately 8,700 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.
