Charles P. Blankenship is general manager, Commercial Engine Operation for GE Aviation.In this role, he is responsible for all commercial jet engine products and global support.

Mr. Blankenship began his career with General Electric Company in 1992 as staff scientist at GE's Corporate Research and Development facility in Schenectady, New York. His technical work resulted in 23 papers published in refereed journals and eight US and European patents. As a program manager, he led a team of scientists and engineers developing alloys and processes for aircraft engine, land-based gas turbine, lighting systems, medical systems and diesel engine applications.

Later, Mr. Blankenship joined GE Aviation's Commercial Engines Operation as the leader of the CF6 Airline Support Engineering team. He was then appointed manager of CF34 EMBRAER programs. In this role, he led the cross-functional team from the program initiation through CF34-8E engine certification and initial flight test campaign of the EMBRAER 170. Blankenship served as the general manager of GE Aviation's Small Commercial Engine Operation. In this role, he is responsible for all CF34 and CT7 program management, marketing and sales, product development and after-sales support. Prior to assuming his current role, Blankenship was general manager for GE's Aero Energy business, which manufactures and services aeroderivative gas turbine generator sets for power generation, pipeline and commercial marine applications.

Mr. Blankenship earned a Bachelor degree in materials engineering from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Virginia.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company, is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.

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