Gen. Gary North

Gary North is the Vice President for Customer Requirements, Aeronautics for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity, he serves as the company interface for customer requirements across the wide spectrum of all Aeronautics programs, ensuring Lockheed Martin meets strategic milestones while ensuring operational execution reflects company contractual commitments. In addition, Mr. North is responsible for ensuring Lockheed Martin fulfills United States and international F-35 customer requirements. He also ensures that requirements for F-35 industrial partners around the world are met. Prior  to joining Lockheed Martin in January 2013, Mr. North served for 36 years in the Air Force, retiring with the rank of General. He commanded U.S. Air Force units at every level from squadron to major command, and held numerous key operational, command and staff positions, including Commander, Pacific Air Forces; and executive director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, where he was responsible for all U.S. Air Force operations in the Pacific. This position also included serving as the Joint Force Air Component Commander for the U.S. Pacific Command. Mr. North also served as the Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central from 2006-2009 where he was responsible for all Air Force operations in the Middle East. He served as the Combined Forces Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and from 2004-2006 as the Director of Operations for U.S. Pacific Command. He is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours, primarily in the F-16, F-15C and the
F4G. Mr. North is a graduate of the Air Force F-16 Fighter Weapons School and flew 83 combat missions in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Mr. North graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Golden Gate University with master’s degrees in Public Administration and Human Resource Management, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University with a master’s degree in National Resource Strategy.