Aviation and Aerospace Specialist Named to Lead Georgia Center of Innovation for Aerospace

ATLANTA, February 3, 2010 – The Georgia Centers of Innovation (COI) program recently named R. Steven Justice director of the Center of Innovation for Aerospace, an initiative housed in the Georgia Department of Economic Development that partners Georgia companies in this industry with resources to foster innovation-based economic growth.  Mr. Justice comes to this position with 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry, most recently as the vice president of engineering for The Ginn Group in Peachtree City, Georgia. 'Steve's depth of experience across the aerospace and aviation sectors, one of Georgia's strategic industries, will be an invaluable asset to the Center of Innovation for Aerospace,' said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.  'He joins the ranks of our other COI directors, who are all industry-leading experts in their respective fields, and committed to advancing the growth of key industries in Georgia.' Mr. Justice earned a bachelor of aerospace engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was president of the Sigma Gamma Tau aerospace honorary society. Throughout his career, Mr. Justice has held positions of increasing responsibility with industry leaders including Lockheed-Martin, Gulfstream Aerospace, Northrop and Delta Air Lines.  He also founded two aerospace companies, Aviation Science & Commerce, and Advanced Aviation Products, LLC. A licensed professional aerospace engineer, Mr. Justice's experience in the aerospace industry is bolstered by extensive credentials in aircraft evaluation and design, aircraft interior design, steady state and dynamic loads analysis and the development of information technology and computer-aided-engineering (CAE) systems.  He has also participated in the development, certification and support of several production aircraft, and has led or contributed to various research and development programs including new aerial refueling aircraft, advanced strategic and tactical transports, and supersonic business jets among other key career milestones. 'In Steve Justice, the Center of Innovation for Aerospace is gaining a leader with keen industry insights and highly applicable experiences to help high-growth aerospace businesses thrive in Georgia,' said Sterling Wharton, director of the Georgia Centers of Innovation program.  'Having excelled in the industry during his 30-year career, Steve brings a unique set of skills that will help advance the COI's mission to connect Georgia's aerospace industry with the strategic and intellectual capital resources required for considerable growth.' The Center of Innovation for Aerospace is headquartered at Middle Georgia College's Aviation Campus in Eastman, strategically located in close proximity to many industry-leading aerospace companies that do business in Georgia.  The center connects aerospace companies in Georgia with industry-specific academic, business and relevant development resources designed to accelerate industry growth throughout the state. About the Georgia Centers of Innovation The Centers of Innovation (COI) program focuses on six areas of strategic industry growth and expansion: agriculture, aerospace, energy, life sciences, logistics and manufacturing, located respectively in Tifton, Eastman, Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah and Gainesville.  COI's services include access to deep industry expertise and university-level research; product commercialization, and client connections to key state resources. For more information, visit www.georgiainnovation.org. About the Georgia Department of Economic Development The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.