Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> June 18, 2001
JAMES M. SMITH is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EDO
Corporation, headquartered in New York City. EDO provides military
products and professional services to the United States and allied
governments, and their prime defense contractors. The company has annual
revenues of approximately $460 million and employs 2,800 people. In
1967, Mr. Smith joined AIL Technologies, Inc. After holding increasingly
responsible positions, he was named President of AIL in July 1991 and on
January 1, 1992, became its Chief Executive Officer. On April 28, 2000,
AIL merged with EDO Corporation and Mr. Smith was appointed President
and Chief Executive Officer. He was elected Chairman of the Board on May
7, 2002. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Naval War
College Foundation. He has also served as Chairman of the American
Electronics Association (New York Council), as Chairman of the Long
Island Association, and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
public broadcasting television station, WLIW (Channel 21). He has also
served on the Board of the National Defense Industrial Association. Mr.
Smith received his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the
University of Massachusetts and his Master's degree in Electrical
Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of New York. Profile
TWST: Can we start with a history and overview of EDO Corporation?Mr. Smith: EDO, the company, has been in business for more than 75
years. My personal entry into the EDO scene was about 13