Eileen Paterson is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in the aerospace and defense industries.

From 2015 to 2023,  Paterson was the chief executive officer and president of Aerojet Rocketdyne, a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, and tactical systems areas.  

Prior to Aerojet Rocketdyne, Paterson served as president of Pratt & Whitney AeroPower’s auxiliary power unit and small turbojet propulsion business.  within the United Technology Corporation. She also held leadership roles at Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation. 

Paterson is a U.S. Army veteran and served as an active-duty U.S. Army aviator.  She was the airfield commander of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia and is  a distinguished military graduate of the U.S. Army Aviation Officer School. 

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The College of New Rochelle and a Master of Business Administration degree from Butler University. She also received an honorary doctorate degree in science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

Paterson currently serves on the boards of the integrated downstream energy company, Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Woodard, Inc., a manufacturer, and service provider of control systems and control system components.  She previously served on the board of governors of the Aerospace Industries Association, the national board of directors of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and the National Space Council’s Users’ Advisory Group.