Dayton Development Coalition names new military, aerospace executive

The Dayton Development Coalition has hired a new executive vice president to lead efforts in the military and aerospace industry.

Elaine Melendez Bryant is the coalition’s new Executive Vice President for Aerospace and Defense.

Bryant comes to the DDC after two decades in the Air Force, finishing her career as the Deputy Chief of the Human Systems Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Before that, Bryant was commander of NASIC’s Foreign Material Exploitation Squadron at Wright-Patt, according to the DDC.

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“We’re thrilled to have Elaine join the DDC,” said DDC president Jeff Hoagland. “She brings a wealth of expertise to this critical role as a primary advocate and liaison for our region’s military and federal installations.”

Bryant also previously served as Program Element Monitor for Sustainment Technologies at the Pentagon and the Lead Program Manager for the F-35 Logistics Systems Integrated Product Team in Virginia. Wright-Patt will soon become the home of F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator Organization.

HPSI supports a global fleet of more than 340 aircraft and when it moves to its new location at Wright-Patt it will be led by the Air Force with a workforce from the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, international partners and industry. The program will become fully operational at Wright-Patt in 2022.

Bryant replaces Maurice “Mo” McDonald, who left the DDC in September after working there for eight years. McDonald now works for PE Systems where he is leading a contract supporting Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

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