Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

February 19, 2020

Whirlybird gets the worm at UNH

PHOTO | New Haven BIZ Chopper on the block (l-r): Sikorsky President Schultz, UNH President Kaplan and Sikorsky engineering head Ambrose arrive in style on the UNH campus Wednesday morning.
By Michael C. Bingham

Sikorsky Aircraft President Dan Schultz dropped in on the University of New Haven Wednesday morning for a chat with some students.

His arrival on the West Haven campus made quite a statement, when Schultz disembarked from a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that landed on UNH’s Bixler-Gerber Residential Quad around 9:30 a.m.

Schultz was on campus to promote “Lockheed-Martin Day” at UNH, a day-long series of events aimed at educating and energizing the next generation of Science, Technology Engineering & Math (STEM) students and keeping that talent in Connecticut. Lockheed-Martin is the parent corporation of Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford.

Schultz’s not-so-hidden agenda was recruitment: Throughout the day some 150 UNH students were scheduled to have interviews with Sikorsky hiring managers for internships and jobs with the aerospace manufacturer. The most promising seniors, Schultz promised, would be offered positions “right on the spot.”

Schultz made a compelling pitch to an eager audience. “When you come to our company and see the technology we have, we have probably the most modern complete factory in the whole world,” pronounced the ex-Marine, who was tapped for the top job at Sikorsky in 2015 shortly after Lockheed Martin acquired the Stratford manufacturer from United Technologies in a $9 billion deal.

“If you want to be part of something exciting on every level, this is the company you want to work for,” Schultz told the graduating seniors. He added that his Fortune 100 company already employs some 400 UNH grads — and he’s eager to see that number grow.

Wednesday morning’s festivities culminated in the presentation of a large check by Schultz (left) to UNH President Steven H. Kaplan.

Schultz was introduced by Mike Ambrose, Sikorsky’s vice president of engineering and technology and a UNH alum. “We want your graduates,” he announced to his alma mater.

Before they lifted off for greener pastures (Schultz allowed that he was on his way to West Palm Beach, Fla., “where it’s a little warmer right now”), Schultz and Ambrose left behind a little memento of their visit — a check for $100,000, presented to UNH President Steven H. Kaplan to be used for his school’s student mentoring program.

And then — just like that — they were gone. “Gotta fly,” Schultz must have said.

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF