Hightower Resigns as EAA President/CEO

Oct. 24, 2012
Jack Pelton, recently retired chairman, president, and CEO of Cessna Aircraft, has been elected chairman of the Board of Directors of EAA

EAA AVIATION CENTER, Oshkosh, Wis. – October 22, 2012 – The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Board of Directors accepted the resignation of President and CEO Rod Hightower today. Hightower will be returning to St. Louis to reunite with his family.

“Maura and I have five children ranging in age from pre-school to college freshman,” Hightower said. “When I accepted the position two years ago I believed that we could as a family relocate to the Oshkosh area. But our family and school involvement have increased as our children advance in the schools they, and we as their parents, love. It would simply be too great a hardship on my family to move them to the Oshkosh area.”

Jack Pelton, recently retired Chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft, has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of EAA. In his role as EAA Chair, Pelton will guide the organization through the leadership transition.

“I will be working closely with the EAA Board of Directors to ensure a seamless transition to a new leader,” Pelton said.

“The directors of EAA and I thank Rod for his service. We understand how difficult it is to relocate a family of school-age children,” Pelton said.

“EAA, as does all of aviation, faces many challenges with the continuing economic slump and the decrease in personal aviation participation. As an association, Rod and the senior team have put the organization on a solid path to our future, while honoring our legacy and focusing on the mission our founder, Paul H. Poberezny, established 60 years ago. The EAA mission is to welcome all members no matter what they fly, celebrate our volunteers and enjoy the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” Pelton added.