Naveed Aziz, Dr. Vicki Britt and Johnny Hodges found high-flying and fulfilling careers with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation. These Mercerians each started with the company more than 25 years ago and over the years have advanced to top leadership roles.
Based at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Dr. Britt is the senior vice president of innovation, engineering and flight and a member of Mercer’s National Engineering Advisory Board since 2019. Aziz and Hodges, both Mercer alumni, are vice president of completions engineering and vice president of engineering, respectively.
Gulfstream Aerospace currently has more than 3,000 aircraft in service around the world. A subsidiary of General Dynamics, the company specializes in the development of business aircraft with advanced and specialized technology.
When it came to choosing a college, Aziz and Hodges both said they were looking for accredited engineering schools in Georgia and were drawn to Mercer’s small-school environment and smaller class sizes.
Aziz, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1998 and a Master of Business Administration in 2014, appreciated the well-rounded engineering education that Mercer’s School of Engineering provided and the caring atmosphere of the Macon campus.
“Some of the faculty helped administer many of the qualities that I have now,” he said. “They were very inspirational in allowing us to grow and learn. It was a really caring environment, which I feel has shaped me as an individual, and I think that helped to prepare me for the future.”
Hodges, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1994, said Mercer gave him the academic and social skills he needed going into his career.
“If you want to be really successful, you have to learn how to build relationships and teams and communicate well, and I felt like there was an emphasis at Mercer on doing that,” he said. “That helped me out a lot. I have hired many Mercer students, either as interns or as full-time (employees), and they seem to embody these same characteristics.”
Hodges got his foot in the door at Gulfstream as a summer intern during college. After graduation, he worked in the transportation industry for a few years before returning to Gulfstream in 1996.
“I’ve held a variety of engineering roles over the last 28 years,” said Hodges, who has been in his current role for several years now. “Today, we have about 1,000 engineers in my organization. We’re responsible for the design, testing certification, production support and in-service support for all of our products.”
As vice president of completions engineering, Aziz oversees the development of the interior elements and cabin systems of the aircraft.
“Essentially, anything that the passenger touches from internet connectivity systems to passenger oxygen, seats or in-flight entertainment, my team helps design, customize and certify for all Gulfstream aircraft models,” said Aziz, who has served in his current role for three years and been at the company for 28.
Aziz didn’t initially plan to pursue a career in aviation, but that changed after he joined Gulfstream’s co-op program, which allowed him to alternate between taking classes at Mercer and working at the company. He was able to explore different opportunities at Gulfstream and find the best fit for his career.
“Once I came here, I fell in love with the product, the company and the culture, and more importantly, the people were just fantastic. That’s what made me choose this path, and I haven’t looked back,” he said.
He began as a design engineer and progressed into work ensuring Federal Aviation Administration compliance before going into research and development, where he helped with cabin development for the Gulfstream G500, Gulfstream G600 and Gulfstream G700 aircraft.
“There can be a lot of challenges when developing new aircraft. Looking back at the work we did to contribute to the G500, G600 and G700 programs, I see what an incredible accomplishment it was by the team. I’m really proud to be a part of that effort,” he said. “I think that my team, the technology and the product that we offer are really what helps drive me. Our team helps support creating and delivering the world’s finest aviation experience, and we’re leaders in our industry.”
Hodges said one of his proudest achievements is being a part of the Gulfstream G650 development. He transitioned from an individual engineering contributor to a leadership role while working on the aircraft.
“It was a transformational aircraft, not only for our company but for the industry,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to be a part of a handful of people who worked on the initial design of the G650. Being able to see that aircraft develop from start to finish is probably my most shining accomplishment.”
Dr. Britt earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1987 and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1990, both at North Carolina State University. After six years of working at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, she joined Gulfstream in 1996.
“I came to Savannah for an interview, and Gulfstream was much smaller at the time, but to be able to walk the floor and see the aircraft manufacturing process, actual blueprints and everything that went into the production of the aircraft … I just became enamored with that. It closely aligned with what I wanted to do,” said Dr. Britt, who also holds a Ph.D. from Old Dominion University.
She started out as an engineer and worked her way up the ladder and into the management side of the corporation, taking on her current role as senior vice president in 2021. Gulfstream’s G400 and G800 aircraft are in the process of being certified, so much of Dr. Britt’s recent responsibilities have revolved around navigating those processes.
In addition, she helps overcome technical challenges; collaborates with community agencies and corporations, including General Dynamics; and stays connected with Gulfstream employees through a variety of initiatives.
“I really like working with people and the people management side, and the things I’ve been able to participate in as far as helping get new aircraft certified, that’s also been very rewarding,” she said. “In March, we received certification for the G700 — which is the largest aircraft we’ve ever introduced into market. Throughout my time in my current role, I’ve been working to get that aircraft certified, and it was very rewarding to get to that point.”
Dr. Britt said she loves witnessing the first flights of new aircraft, and she was able to do that for the G400 earlier this year. Gulfstream has many additional projects in the works, and Dr. Britt said she looks forward to seeing what the future holds.
“I’ve said, ever since the first day I started here, that these were the finest flying machines ever made,” Hodges said. “They’ve continued to improve throughout the near 30 years that I’ve been with Gulfstream. We build the most technologically advanced business aircraft. I believe that, and I believe in the product. But as important as the product is, I also believe that we have the best people in the industry.”
Gulfstream Savannah has hired many Mercer students and graduates over the years, and company leaders continue to support and develop that pipeline.
“I’ve been really excited to see a lot of Mercer engineers working here and performing at a very high level,” Hodges said. “I strive to make sure that we continue to build that pipeline. It’s something that I’m very proud of and that I think Mercer should be proud of as well. They are providing us with engineers that are delivering some of the best work in the aerospace industry.”
Dr. Britt, whose daughter is a Mercer alumna, said being on Mercer’s National Engineering Advisory Board allows her to stay connected to the University and its students, and she has been impressed by Mercer engineering students’ senior design projects and their contributions during Mercer On Mission programs.
“What we see in the Mercer students when they come to Gulfstream is that leadership experience and potential,” Dr. Britt said. “They have the confidence to take on a variety of roles here. They also tend to be people who stay here, so that’s very important to us too. Once you have a good employee and you’ve trained them and they’re doing a great job, you want to be able to keep them.”
Aziz said he grew up with Gulfstream and enjoys working there, and he wants to make sure others have the same positive experience as they come into the company.
“I’m very appreciative of all the opportunities offered to me,” he said. “(I want) to continue to make Gulfstream the best employer, making sure that we’re being transparent and inspirational for all of our team members. We have engineers from Mercer in our group who are solid and perform at a high-level as a result of their education and experiences they received at Mercer.”
Naveed Aziz, Dr. Vicki Britt and Johnny Hodges are among the Mercerians featured in Mercer Illustrated: The Places, People, and Experiences of a Uniquely Impactful University. This coffee table book from Mercer University Press will be released Nov. 5, and pre-orders and orders can be placed online. Mercer faculty, staff and students can receive a 40% discount when they order by phone at (478) 301-2880.
