A Native American Woman-Owned Small Business

Executive Leadership

Photo of Sheila Cummings, President and C E O of Cummings Aerospace

President & CEO

Sheila Cummings

Sheila Cummings is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cummings Aerospace. Since founding the company in 2009, Ms. Cummings has led all aspects of corporate operations and strategic development. Her aerospace engineering expertise stems from her previous experience as a spacecraft thermal engineer, a Missile Defense systems engineer, and a Vice President at a small engineering company in Arlington, VA. Ms. Cummings combines her talents for business leadership and engineering innovation with a passion for STEM outreach to underserved communities. Her vision for the future is a more diverse, more equitable workplace, where people from all walks of life can become engineers and scientists without having to overcome socioeconomic barriers. To advance her vision, Sheila devotes a tremendous amount of her time and resources to STEM summer camps, engineering course development for K–12 students, and pursuit of grant funding for STEM programs in disadvantaged communities. She is also the founder of the ACE Scholarship Program which provides education funding to economically disadvantaged minority students pursuing an engineering, math, or science degree. Ms. Cummings holds a bachelor of science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and is a registered member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

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Executive Vice President

Kelly Francis

Kelly Francis, Executive Vice President for Cummings Aerospace has had a robust 23-year career in the defense industry as an executive leader, program manager, and engineer. She has successfully led program teams to exceed delivery requirements and company financial commitments, and has defined and implemented complex strategic partnerships for market and technology growth. Her program leadership experience spans prototype, development, and production programs for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, international navies, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and Missile Defense Agency. In addition to working in the defense industry, Kelly teaches junior high math and a semester-long 3D Design and Printing course at SEAS Catholic School in the Diocese of Tucson. She is a member of the Diocese of Tucson School Board and the Director of Community Engagement for Women in Defense Arizona. Kelly was instrumental in initiating and inspiring the Thrive program, which advances STEM education outreach and curriculum development to students in economically disadvantaged regions. The Thrive program integrates creative exploration of 3D Design, robotics, life science, and flight sciences to develop foundational learning that prepares students for higher education and STEM careers.