David Forward is Vice President of Operations at Woodward, Inc., where he brings over two decades of experience driving operational excellence across the aerospace industry. Starting his career as an aircraft mechanic, he rose through the ranks at GE Aviation and held leadership roles at Pratt & Whitney and Barnes Aerospace. He has a proven track record in strategic planning, lean manufacturing, and cost containment—including overseeing a $300M contract launch and delivering $800K in annual savings through global sourcing initiatives. Known for his inclusive leadership and commitment to continuous improvement, he has led workforce transformations, enhanced diversity, and improved critical performance metrics across quality, safety, and compliance.