10 Things You Didn’t Know About Arconic CEO Charles Blankenship

Charles Blankenship is the CEO of Arconic, a publicly traded company that specializes in solving engineering challenges within the transportation industries. They’re a manufacturing company that maintains an operation of cutting edge and advanced manufacturing techniques, delivering high quality products to their customers. He took the helm after David Hess filled the interim gap and to give you a better idea of who Charles Blankenship is and the strengths that he brings to the position, here are 10 thins that you didn’t know about him.

1. Charles Blankenship has been in the aerospace business for 20 years

Prior to being appointed as the head of Arconic, Blankenship gained extensive experience in the aerospace industry. He’s worked in a variety of different positions at companies that specialize in this area. Most of his career prior to being hired as Arconic’s CEO involved different aspects of aerospace and they helped him to gain the skills, knowledge and experience that would make him the ideal candidate for the position.

2. He has his doctoral degree

Unlike the majority of CEOs who have made it to the top in their industries, Charles Blankenship has an advanced academic degree. He first attended Virginia Tech where he earned his bachelor of science degree in materials engineering. After that he enrolled at the University of Virginia where he earned his PhD degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

3. He’s a metallurgist

Blankenship is by trade and training a metallurgist. He has spent time throughout his career working on the development of alloys for the aerospace industry. Many of the alloys that he helped to develop were used in new and improved aero engines as well as industrial gas turbines. He’s made some significant contributions to the aerospace industry.

4. He used to work for GE

Prior to coming tho Arconic, Charles Blankenship was employed by the General Electric company. This is the company that he began his career with. He joined GE in 1992 and worked in a variety of positions. He was promoted in 2011 to the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE’s Appliances division. He helped to turn the company around and prepare it for its sale to Haier Company in 2016. He was with GE for a total of 24 years.

5. He sits on important boards and committees

Charles serves on the National Association of Manufacturing Board. He also led their Competitiveness and the Workforce Task Force. He is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Thanks to his involvement in the development of alloys, Charles Blankenship has seven patents to his credit and they are all related to types of Jet engine technologies.

6. He has a catchy nickname

Charles Blankenship is his formal name. Those who know him well and worth closely with him call him by his nickname. His nickname is “Chip.” This is the name that co-workers frequently use when referring to him, even in more formal interviews. There’s nothing stuffy about him. He’s a personable guy but when it comes to business, he’s down to brass tacks with no nonsense.

7. His knowledge spans multiple industries

Mr. Blankenship has not only been actively employed in the manufacture of products for the aerospace industry, he has also worked with automotive and marine technology. He’s had experience in the development of products from a diverse range of products for different sectors within the umbrella of the transportation industry.

8. He’s also involved in the Healthcare industry

As a part of his duties, Charles Blankenship sits on boards across several industries. One of them is healthcare. In addition to serving on boards for the manufacturing industry, he is also a member of the KentuckyOne Health board.

9. He’s a family man

Charles Blankenship is a busy executive and a man who has enjoyed a decades long successful career. He manages to balance his professional and personal life. Mr. Blankenship is married and he and his wife live in Louisville, Kentucky. The couple has four children.

10. His first job with GE was as a scientist

When Charles signed on with General Electric, he was hired in their Corporate Research and Development division, located in Schenectady, New York. He performed the duties of a staff scientist. His work resulted in publishing a total of 23 papers along with 8 patents within the United States and Europe. He was promoted to oversee the group of scientists responsible for the development of several alloys and other technologies.

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