Company Profile
Air Industries Group traces its history to 1941 in Connecticut, when it began producing parts for the WW-II fighter aircraft, the F4-U Corsair, then being assembled by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford. This marked the beginning of a long and distinguished track record of producing high quality precision assemblies and components of increasing size and complexity. Our products meet or exceed the exacting flight safety and performance demands of the aerospace and defense industry. Air Industries is a Tier 1 supplier to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and a Prime Contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense. Our extensive and growing range of precision products includes landing gear, arresting gear, flight controls, engine mounts, ball valves for nuclear submarines, and components for aircraft jet engines and ground turbines.
Air Industries’ products are currently deployed on important military aircraft, including Sikorsky helicopters, the UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-53k King Stallion, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter), the US Navy carrier-based E-2D and F-18 Hornet, and the US Air Force F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Our jet engine components are used on many commercial and military engines, including the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) jet engine, as well as Electric Boats’ Virginia-Class submarines.
Operating two Centers of Excellence in New York and Connecticut, specializing in Complex Machining and Turbine Engine Components, our facilities total over 200,000 square feet and employ approximately 200 highly skilled workers. Air Industries has been long established in the Long Island, NY, aerospace community, known as the “Cradle of Aviation,” and Hartford, Connecticut’s “Aerospace Alley®.” Both Centers of Excellence benefit from proximity to major OEM customers, a deep pool of talented, skilled labor, and local suppliers and supporting services.
Air Industries is classified as a Small Business and is listed on the NYSE American Exchange (ticker symbol: AIRI).
The entire Air Industries team is dedicated to a vital mission: understanding the needs of our customers and translating those needs into daily actions that drive us to meet or exceed customer expectations. For over 80 years, we have supported the progress of our nation’s defense and commercial aviation sectors. The people of Air Industries pursue our mission with pride, integrity, and a passion for excellence.
Luciano (Lou) Melluzzo, President and Chief Executive Officer, joined Air Industries Group in 2017. He has been in the aerospace machining business for over 35 years, and has previously served in a number of leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Business Development for EDAC Technologies, which was a Nasdaq-listed $100+ million developer and manufacturer of complex rotating parts for jet engine applications, and General Manager of Polar Corporation, a privately-held company specializing in commercial and military aerospace components. Mr. Melluzzo has extensive experience in turnaround management, business restructuring, and achieving operational excellence. He currently serves on the board of directors of ADDAPT, a non-profit organization that provides political
and commercial advocacy for the Long Island aerospace supply chain.
Scott Glassman, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Secretary, was promoted to his current position in 2023. He had previously served as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer since 2019. Mr. Glassman has been employed by Air Industries Group in various senior financial positions from 2007 to 2015, and again from 2019 to the present. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany and has been a CPA licensed in the state of New York since 2002.
Gary Settoducato, Vice President of Business Development, was appointed to this position in 2017, after over 30 years in the aerospace industry. Previously, Mr. Settoducato served as the Executive Vice President of our Air Industries Machining subsidiary, and also spent seven years as President of the Group’s Welding Metallurgy subsidiary. He is a graduate of Northrop Grumman’s “PROFIT” procurement training program, and has held prior senior management positions at Air Industries and other Long Island aerospace firms.
Mr. Settoducato graduated summa cum laude from the C.W. Post Center of Long Island University in 1983 with a double major in marketing and management, and was the Valedictorian of his graduating class. He currently serves on the board of directors of ADDAPT, a non-profit organization that provides political and commercial advocacy for the Long Island aerospace supply chain.
Michael Recca, Director of Strategic Projects, has served the Company in various capacities for over 15 years, and until October 2023 was Chief Financial Officer. Prior to his role with Air Industries, he served in a number of leadership capacities, including President and Chief Operating Officer of Sky Capital Holdings Ltd. Group, listed on the AIM division of the London Stock Exchange, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Electronics, Inc., which was listed on Nasdaq. Mr. Recca is a graduate of the State University of NY at Stony Brook, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
John Spiotta, Corporate Director of Quality, joined Air Industries in 2007. With over 30 years in Quality Assurance, Mr. Spiotta developed, and is responsible for, the corporation’s Advanced Quality System. In this role, he ensures compliance with industry standards, including AS9100:D and ISO 9001:2015. Mr. Spiotta manages the inspection process, maintains quality reporting metrics, supports customer and government source inspections, and develops plans for positive cause and, when required, corrective action.
Lisa Stafford, Director of Human Resources, joined Air Industries in May 2023. Ms. Stafford’s prior experience was in the healthcare field. She is responsible for all aspects of HR in both our Bay Shore, NY and Barkhamsted, CT facilities. She is a graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, with a BA in Business and Economics.
Michael Biancospino, President and General Manager, Air Industries Machining Corporation and Nassau Tool Works, was appointed to his current position, effective October 3, 2022. Mr. Biancospino joined Air Industries in 2004 as a manufacturing engineer, developing manufacturing work instructions, 3D CAD models, and process plans for new projects. He was a key member of the team that implemented the Company’s ERP system, and led the development efforts of the E-2D landing gear program. He was later appointed Director of Engineering, responsible for all Manufacturing Engineering, N/C Programming, and tool design. Mr. Biancospino earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University. He completed his Program Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2013.
Eric Lee, President and General Manager of Sterling Engineering Corporation (Turbine Engine Components), was appointed to his current position in July 2023. When Mr. Lee joined the Turbine Engine Sector in 2016 as the V.P. of Operations, his first focus was bringing in new business and strengthening customer relationships. Mr. Lee has over 25 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, primarily in complex helicopter rotor and transmission components, as well as the rotating engine sector. His skills include engineering, CNC programming, special processing, operational excellence, Lean and Six-Sigma, legal and regulatory compliance, and export compliance (ITAR/EAR), through the State Department.
Operational Leadership
Nancy Meehan, Director of Procurement, Air Industries Machining Corporation and Nassau Tool Works, has been in the aerospace industry for over 25 years, in roles that include inspection, planning and procurement. Ms. Meehan was instrumental in strategizing the initial production of the UH-60/S-70 Mixer Program at Air Industries, a complex, flight-critical assembly that includes over 250 detailed components. In her current role, she is responsible for subcontract strategy, pricing, negotiation, supplier development, and cost-reduction initiatives.
Jennie Wittman, Director of Contracts, joined Air Industries in 2006. She started as an Administrative Assistant, and was subsequently promoted to Contracts Administrator and Contracts Manager before attaining her current position. Ms. Wittman’s responsibilities include estimating, planning, contracts and program management.
Richard (Rick) Roderka, Director of Operations, Air Industries Machining Corporation and Nassau Tool Works, has been part of the Air Industries team since 2001, and has over 40 years of aerospace experience. He began his career as an Inspector before advancing to Quality Manager. In 1997, Mr. Roderka transitioned from quality to operations, quickly advancing from Manufacturing Operator to Manufacturing Lead, and Manufacturing Manager, before being promoted to his current position in 2018. In his current role, Mr. Roderka is responsible for all activities pertaining to manufacturing and supporting activities in the company’s Bay Shore, NY facility.
Industry Affiliations
Air Industries Group is a proud member of the following industry organizations:
The Aerospace Components Manufacturers, ACM, is one of the largest, most experienced concentrations of premier aerospace companies in the world. Situated within a 50-mile radius of Hartford, CT, known as The World’s Aerospace Alley, the organization’s member companies provide precision components that take to the skies every day, as they have since the inception of powered flight.
ADDAPT is a proactive organization that enhances business prospects for its members by engaging with key Prime and Tier 1 contractors, working with local and federal government for favorable programs, facilitating networking, developing the workforce, and improving the business environment on Long Island. In short, ADDAPT advocates for the Long Island Supply Chain, represented by its membership of over 100 companies. Both AIG’s President and CEO, and AIG’s VP of Business Development serve on the Board of Directors of ADDAPT.
The Aerospace Industries Association and its members guide the way forward by advocating for policies and investments that bolster our capacity to innovate and spur economic growth. The AIA is the trusted voice of the aerospace and defense industry for fact-driven, consensus-led positions on issues that impact member organizations.
The Naval & Maritime Consortium (NMC) is an active network of member companies, community partners, and OEMs that collectively addresses challenges, shares solutions, and collaborates to develop opportunities within the growing Blue Tech industrial sector. Programs and goals focus on Naval submarine shipbuilding, undersea technology, submersibles, and offshore wind supply chains within New England and beyond.