Why Program Excellence
This distinctive program, designed by industry leaders, is dedicated to recognizing exemplary program and project management practices. The Aviation Week Network oversees this initiative, facilitating the involvement of leaders who form the Program Excellence Evaluation Team. The primary goal is to pinpoint best practices and lessons that can be disseminated throughout the aerospace and defense sector.
The Evaluation Team examines and evaluates nominated individuals and team-based programs. The insights gained from each program’s strengths and weaknesses are shared, fostering overall performance enhancements across the A&D industry. Membership in this elite team is limited to a select group of no more than 20 companies.
The Evaluation Team scores each nomination, and finalists are chosen in August. The winning programs are revealed at the annual Program Excellence Awards dinner in Washington, D.C., November 20., coinciding with the Aviation Week Network Program Excellence RT and half day conference.
How the Program Works
Every member company nominates a leader-level representative for the Evaluation Team. As a crucial part of this team overseeing the evaluation process, you will:
- Conduct in-depth reviews of programs, gaining insights into optimizing for success and uncovering the story behind the results.
- Play a pivotal role in paving the way for project and performance improvements within your organization through the evaluation process.
- Use lessons learned to enhance future planning, ultimately saving time and money in your program budgets.
- Emphasize the significance of every voice, recognizing that one size does not fit all.
- Each member company will receive all Program Excellence nomination materials for internal development purposes.
Important dates
- March 30 – Nominations Deadline CLOSED
- June 14 – Submissions Deadline
- Sept. 8 – Finalists Announced
Program Excellence in 2023
In 2023, nine winners and finalists were honored for excellence in efforts ranging from delivery of life-saving protective systems to Ukraine Defense Forces, improving aircrew safety and health through helmet mounted display systems and deploying a roll-on, roll-off weapon system to enable large-scale delivery of effects.
More than 30 programs were nominated for the 2023 awards by program leaders who were invited to submit applications for the awards. From these, 17 programs were chosen as finalists in seven categories covering the program life cycle at both the supplier and OEM levels.
