Chet Thorne

Chet Thorne is a seasoned engineering professional with extensive experience in the aerospace industry. Currently serving as the Vice President of Engineering at Sierra Nevada Corporation since October 2021, Chet previously held multiple leadership roles at Textron Aviation, including Director of Engineering for Large Cabin Jets and Director of Design & Test Engineering. Chet's tenure at Beechcraft spanned nearly two decades, where responsibilities included Chief Engineer for the Hawker 4000 and Premier I aircraft, overseeing production support, R&D, and field support for sizable aircraft fleets. Chet's educational background includes a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering from Wichita State University and an Associate of Science degree from Fort Scott Community College.