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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

As President and Chief Executive Officer of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, California, coordinates the activities of the company's sales, design, manufacturing, training, operations and support of unmanned aircraft surveillance systems and programs. He led General Atomics' entry into the unmanned aircraft business area and in a period of three years successfully established General Atomics Aeronautical Systems as a leader in this field. The Company manufactures, supports and operates a variety of sophisticated unmanned aircraft surveillance systems for U.S. government and overseas customers.
After joining General Atomics in 1987, he directed Business Development efforts for defense-related activities. Prior to this time he served in the U.S. Navy for 34 years, retiring as a Rear Admiral. Previous assignments included Command of the Pacific Fleet Fighter and Airborne Early Warning Wing, Command of the Naval Air Station, Miramar, California and Command of Fighter Squadron 161 aboard the aircraft carrier Coral Sea during combat in Vietnam. He has extensive experience flying a wide variety of U.S. and foreign aircraft and combat experience at all staff levels from a carrier group to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a flag officer, served in the Joint Chiefs of Staff organization as the Chief of Naval Operations liaison officer to the Chairman and was Director of the Tactical Readiness Division on the staff of the CNO. As a naval aviator, he had numerous Washington area, fleet staff, operational fighter squadron, test squadron, joint service, and joint special access program tours.
Mr. Cassidy is an Associate Fellow, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and a member of the Board of Trustees' Scholarship Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Aerospace Museum.