David P. Storch is the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board for AAR, a leading provider of aviation services for commercial and government customers in more than 100 countries.
Storch joined AAR in 1979 with responsibility for developing the Company’s aircraft engine business. Through his leadership, the business flourished and, in 1987, Storch was named President of the AAR Trading Group. He went on to become President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company in 1989, and then Chief Executive Officer—the second since the Company was incorporated in 1955—from 1996 until his retirement on May 31, 2018. Storch assumed the additional post of Chairman of AAR in October 2005.
Under his leadership, AAR was twice named One of America's Most Trusted Companies by Forbes magazine. Storch was recognized with an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012. In 2010 he was awarded the USO Salute to Leadership Award and in 2011 he was awarded with both the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award and the Wilbur Wright Award. In 2015 Storch was the inaugural recipient of Penton Aviation Week Network’s Gilbert W. Speed Award. In 2016 he was awarded the Leroy R. Grumman Award from the Cradle of Aviation Museum and in 2018 was honored with both a Lifetime Achievement Award from Aviation Week magazine and A Disciplined Life Award for his work with Perspectives Charter Schools in Chicago.
Storch serves as a Board Member of the Business Executives for National Security and as a Board Member Emeritus of the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. Storch holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ithaca College.
He is married to Leslie and they have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.