Charles (“Chip”) Blankenship has served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Woodward since 2022. He leads over 10,000 Woodward team members in delivering solutions that our partners count on to power a clean future.
Chip brings a deep knowledge of technical engineering, and managerial and operational best practices to Woodward. Chip previously served as CEO of Arconic Corporation, which specialized in precision engineering and advanced manufacturing of metals and components for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Before Arconic, Chip spent 24 years at General Electric and held roles of increasing responsibility, including CEO of GE Appliances; Vice President and General Manager of Commercial Aircraft Engines; and General Manager of GE Aero Energy.
Chip is the Chair of the Board’s Executive Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Fluor Corporation, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia, where he served as the Montgomery Distinguished Professor of Practice at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.