Chip Blankenship

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Woodward

Education

B.S. Materials Engineering, Virginia Tech
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, 1992

Biography

Chip Blankenship is Woodward’s Chairman of the Board and CEO. He is an accomplished business leader with an extensive background in aerospace and industrial markets and operations leadership. Prior to becoming Woodward’s CEO in May 2022, Chip’s leadership roles included serving as CEO of Arconic, an aerospace advanced alloys and components company, and a 24-year career at General Electric (GE). While at GE, he held significant leadership roles in aviation, energy and appliances, including CEO of GE Appliances and Vice president and General Manager of Commercial Aircraft Engines. He was also General Manager of GE’s Aero Energy. Chip also served as the Montgomery Distinguished Professor of Practice at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

He holds a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from UVA and a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Chip serves on the Board of Directors of Fluor Corporation. He also serves on the Board for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). He is also on the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.