Ralph Dozier Crosby Jr. (born September 23, 1947) was president and CEO of

EADS North America Airbus Group, Inc. (formerly EADS North America) represents the North American activities of European multinational aerospace company Airbus. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, this American arm of the company participates in U.S. Department of ...

- now known as the

Airbus Group, Inc Airbus Group, Inc. (formerly EADS North America) represents the North American activities of European multinational aerospace company Airbus. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, this American arm of the company participates in U.S. Department of ...

- from 2002 to 2009. He is a board member of Airbus and of

American Electric Power American Electric Power (AEP), (railcar reporting mark: AEPX) is a major investor-owned electric utility in the United States, delivering electricity to more than five million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation's largest gen ...

Studies

Born in

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

, Crosby holds a Bachelor of Science in natural sciences from the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

(1969). In 1976, he obtained a master's degree in international relations at the

Graduate Institute of International Studies Graduate may refer to: Education * The subject of a graduation, i.e. someone awarded an academic degree ** Alumnus, a former student who has either attended or graduated from an institution * High school graduate, someone who has completed hi ...

in Geneva. In 1977, he graduated with a master's degree in public administrative law from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

Military career

Before entering a civilian career, Crosby served as a U.S. Army officer in Germany, Vietnam, and in the United States. At the end of his military career, he served as military staff assistant to the vice president of the United States.

Beginning of civilian career at Northrop Grumman

Crosby joined

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company. With 90,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $30 billion, it is one of the world's largest weapons manufacturers and military techn ...

in 1981 as special assistant to the senior vice president of the marketing and technology department. In 1983, he was appointed director of the group's Washington D.C. office and became its vice-president and general manager in 1985. In 1991, he became vice-president of the business and advanced systems development branches of the B-2 department. He was appointed corporate vice president and general manager in 1994. When in 1995 the company announced the merger of the military aircraft and B-2 departments, he was appointed deputy general manager of the military aircraft systems branch. In 1996, he became deputy general manager of the civil aircraft branch and he was called to the post of general manager B-2 in September of that year. Finally, he ended his career in the company after being appointed in 1998 president of the integrated systems branch.

Career at EADS

Crosby was appointed member of the executive committee of EADS and chairman and CEO of EADS North America on September 1, 2002. In this capacity, he was responsible for strengthening EADS 'presence in the United States, concluding strategic alliances with North American companies and improving EADS' share of the U.S. market.

Awards

Crosby is the recipient of the James Forrestal Award from the National Defense Industrial Association, and has been awarded Chevalier of the

Légion d’Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...

of France.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crosby, Ralph 1947 births Living people United States Military Academy alumni Military personnel from South Carolina United States Army officers United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies alumni Harvard Kennedy School alumni American chief executives