Northstar Aerospace announced several executive management changes in accordance with the company's plans to drastically accelerate its manufacturing. Harry Schmink was appointed to the newly created position of president—gears and transmissions—and is responsible for the company's Chicago and Anderson, IN, facilities in the U.S., and Canadian facilities at Milton, Cambridge and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Previously, Schmink was general manager at the Chicago manufacturing plant. According to Northstar's press release, Schmink's responsibilities will include maximizing company-wide planning and production capabilities associated with thgrowing orders for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter customers as well as Northstar's lean manufacturing initiative. Ian Taylor, formerly general manager of Northstar Aerospace in Canada, was named vice president—programs. He will lead the company's face gear initiative as it moves from development into the manufacturing phase as part of a transmission that will be used in the U.S. Army's Block III AH-64D Apache Longbow helicoptermodernization program. Taylor will also oversee programs for Rolls-Royce, Bell Helicopter, Textron Canada and others. The Block III AH-64D Apache modernization program includes the development, testing and qualification of drive system components. The company says it will lead production of 510 transmissions with deliveries beginning in 2011. The program will be the first aerospace application of the transmission using face gear technology. Other appointments include Tom Purvin as vice president of sales and marketing for North America and David Fisher as director of business development for North America.