Business Chief USA March 2020

AEROJET ROCKETDYNE
After two years, Alan Avakian,
Senior Director of IT and John
Jackson, Chief Information
Officer at Aerojet Rocketdyne,
discuss the company’s
innovative transformation
journey since 2018
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W
ith 20 years’ experience within information
technology, Alan Avakian, Senior
Director of IT at Aerojet Rocketdyne,
has spent most of his career in the aerospace and
defense industry. “I started out as an application
developer, working in technologies ranging from
the mainframe to client/server and web. Other
technical roles I have had include database administration
and project management,” says Avakian.
“After working with programmers and internal customers,
I branched out into other more specialized
disciplines including reporting and ERP. At a certain
point, I had to make a career choice between
technical and management tracks, and chose
management in the end for the opportunities. With
guidance from others, I went back for my Masters
of Business Administration and transitioned to
managing my own department before becoming
a Director and Chief Technology Officer.”
MARCH 2020