AEVEX Appoints Nelson Erickson as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development

SOLANA BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AEVEX today announced the appointment of Nelson Erickson as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development. Erickson brings more than two decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate development, and finance across the national security ecosystem, supporting AEVEX’s continued growth and long-term objectives.

In his role, Erickson will lead AEVEX’s corporate strategy and M&A efforts, working closely with the executive leadership team to identify, evaluate, and execute growth opportunities. He will support enterprise-wide planning and help advance AEVEX’s position as a scaled provider of advanced defense technologies, unmanned systems, and mission-critical capabilities.

Erickson joins AEVEX from Parry Labs and its lead investor, Capitol Meridian Partners, where he served as an Operating Partner and Senior Advisor, supporting defense technology investments. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade at Mercury Systems, most recently as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development, where he led the company’s strategy, M&A, and corporate development functions.

During his tenure at Mercury Systems, Erickson led the execution of 18 acquisitions totaling approximately $1.6 billion, solidifying a framework for identifying and integrating growth opportunities within the defense technology sector.

Earlier in his career, Erickson held investment banking roles focused on aerospace, defense, and government services and served in multiple positions within the U.S. Department of Defense and the Legislative Branch. His government experience included senior advisory roles supporting defense budgeting, acquisition strategy, and national security policy initiatives.

“Nelson brings deep national security insight and proven experience executing complex growth strategies at scale,” said Roger Wells, CEO of AEVEX. “His disciplined approach to strategy and corporate development, paired with his understanding of defense technology markets, will be instrumental as AEVEX continues to grow and expand its capabilities.”

Erickson holds an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Colgate University. He has received multiple honors for his public service, including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.

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About AEVEX: AEVEX supports U.S. and partner nation security objectives by providing comprehensive aviation and technology-based solutions. The company offers a diverse portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), combat-proven loitering munitions, and multi-mission Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV). These capabilities complement AEVEX’s strengths in custom engineering, manned and unmanned aircraft modification, sensor integration, intelligence analysis, and specialized mission systems. AEVEX is headquartered in Solana Beach, California, with additional facilities in California, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, and Alabama.