Michael A. Crosby
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Crosby formed Aria International Incorporated in July of 2008. Prior to Aria International, he was President of Commonwealth Consulting and the Lehman Group, a Washington, D.C., consulting and lobbying firm. As the CEO of Aria International he is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the company and overseeing all of the corporate functions and developing all business expansion. After his departure from active duty in 2003, Mr. Crosby immediately deployed back to Iraq in support of the US Marine Corps providing specialized communications and surveillance infrastructure at three airfields in western Iraq. He also led the expansion of their efforts to provide similar services to clients such as the Kuwait Ministry of Interior, India Ministry of Interior, and the United Arab Emirates Air Force. From 2000 to 2002 Mr. Crosby served as the Vice President of US Business Development at Advanced Technology Group; a UK based aerospace firm which specialized in the development of unique lighter-than-air aircraft designs and solutions.
From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Crosby was Director of Commercial Business Development at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California and was responsible for the planning and development of the Aerospace Sectors strategic plan. From 1997 to 1998 he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Venga Aerospace Systems, Inc. (TSX- VAV) and led the company through a complete restructuring and IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
In 2002, as a result of the events of 9/11, Mr. Crosby was recalled to active duty with the U.S. Navy and assigned to U.S. Central Command. He was the Deputy for Counter Proliferation and directed operations in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom” and “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. For his efforts Commander Crosby was awarded the “Joint Force Commendation Medal” for organizing and leading a team consisting of units from nine nations conducting counter proliferation operations in the Horn of Africa.
Mr. Crosby holds a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California and is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science. He is a graduate of the Allied Air Forces Central Europe “Tactical Leadership Program” in Jever, Germany, as well as the US Navy Fighter Weapons School “TOPGUN” in San Diego, California. Mr. Crosby has logged over 2700 hours in multiple tactical jet aircraft, including, among others, the F-14, F/A-18, B-1B, Mirage 2000, Tornado GR1, Harrier, and the F-16N.
Art Sullivan
Vice President of Business Development
Mr. Sullivan is the key person responsible for the formulation of Aria International Incorporated’s strategic business development programs and corporate growth goals on both domestic and International levels. A retired Naval Reserve intelligence officer, who also served as a congressional staffer and lobbyist,
Mr. Sullivan is a proven dynamic executive with more than 30 years experience in the military industrial complex capturing business in the Department of Defense in Washington, DC, as well as with International clients. In addition to his long term experience supporting the national defense industry in Washington, DC, he excelled as a corporate executive supporting a wide range of firms engaged in national security systems and as a senior federal executive.
Prior to joining Aria International Incorporated, Mr. Sullivan was the President and Chief Operating/Financial Officer to Global Business Analysis, Incorporated, where he managed multiple successful projects in the United Arab Emirates. From 1995 to 2005 he served as the Vice President for Business Development at Noesis, Inc., responsible for over 20% increase in Federal contracts with a better than 80% win average. Mr. Sullivan is an active member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, serving as the Chair of AIAA’s Audit Committee and is routinely sought by Members of Congress for advice on emerging national defense initiatives. In 1984, Sullivan completed the National Security Management Program at National Defense University and is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College.
Mr. Sullivan graduated Cum Laude from Central Michigan University in 1982 with an M.A. in Management and Supervision. He also received his B.S. in Business Administration, Cum Laude at George Mason University, 1974. Mr. Sullivan was recently granted Top Secret clearance from the Department of Defense in 1980 and possesses a CPA certificate from the State of Virginia.
Kitty Crosby
Vice President of Administration and Human Resources
Ms. Crosby’s primary responsibilities include organizational strategies, development of policies and processes within the departments. In addition she provides supervision, direction and quality control of personnel and activities according to the policies and procedures of Aria International. Key functions and responsibilities include determining the staffing needs of Aria International Incorporated by choosing the most qualified individuals for the position needed, by either utilizing independent contractors or hiring full time employees.
In 2003 Ms. Crosby assisted in the establishment of Aria Incorporated. There she was a key player in expanding and growing the company’s profit by assisting clients in elevating their government relations and business development strategies. In part because of Ms. Crosby’s influence, Aria Incorporated was chosen to be the prime contractor in the design of the physical and communication security architecture to the United Arab Emirates government.
Prior to Aria International Incorporated, Ms. Crosby managed a $2.6 million budget for 10 departments in the Communications Division office of The World Wildlife Fund Organization. From 1995 to 1997 Ms. Crosby was the Director of Public Relations, special Event and Fund Raising Coordination for a County Supervisor in Pima County, Arizona. She was appointed to the Event Planning Committee for the 1996 “Star Quest Campaign” for the Challenger Center for Space Science at the Pima Air and Space Museum, as well as on the committee for the WWII Commemoration fund raiser.
Ms. Crosby attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and attended the University of Phoenix, where she studied Marketing and Public Relations and earned a degree in Business Management. She has held multiple Board Member seats: Tucson Pops, University of Arizona Department of Photography-Steering Committee, and the Pima Air and Space Museum Steering Committee.
