Training provider CAE has tapped Daniel Gelston to serve as group president of Defence & Security, succeeding Heidi Wood, executive vice president of business development and growth initiatives, who also serves as interim group president.
Gelston will be based in Washington, D.C., and his role is effective Aug. 24. He has over 20 years of experience in the U.S. military, intelligence community and the global defense industry, said Marc Parent, CAE president and CEO.
“Dan’s energy and his solid track record as a growth-focused leader will be invaluable in driving the growth of our Defence business in our core operations and expanding further into an array of related adjacencies that align well to our business strengths,” Parent said. “I have no doubt that his industry experience and exceptional leadership will propel our Defence business to reach its full potential.”
Before CAE, Gelston was president of L3Harris Technologies’ Broadband Communications Systems sector and president of Communication Systems-West division. He joined from Special Security Agreement businesses Smiths Detection Inc. and Cobham Tactical Communications and Surveillance, where he was president.
In 2017, Gelston led the SSA-controlled part of Smith’s $710 million Morpho Detection acquisition and the divestment of Smith’s Brazil business. In 2015, Gelston led the sale of Cobham’s Surveillance Business and served as CEO during its transition to a standalone company.