
Baker Engineering, a leader in power, propulsion, and advanced technology solutions for aerospace and defense industry companies as well as government contracting agencies, announced today it has hired two industry veterans to oversee its business operations.
Luke Wackerle will now serve as president of Baker Engineering. Mr. Wackerle brings more than 17 years of operational leadership, project management, supply chain solution knowledge and manufacturing design experience to Baker. He most recently served as operations manager at Jedco, Inc., a supplier of aerospace and defense industry products based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Baker Engineering has also named Shawn Knop as manufacturing manager at its Nunica, Michigan facility. Mr. Knop is a military veteran who served three tours of duty in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He has 15 years of private sector experience with companies specializing in aviation and defense industry products. That work includes serving as a business unit manager, production supervisor, engineer and machinist.
“We’re extremely pleased to add Luke and Shawn to the Baker Engineering management team,” said Deidra Mitchell, president and CEO of Waséyabek Development Company (WDC). “The combination of their military, aerospace and engineering experience will strengthen our position as an innovative sole-source provider for defense industry clients.”
Baker Engineering is a subsidiary of WDC, which is the non-gaming economic development company of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians. As a wholly-owned Native American company, Baker Engineering is a Small Business Administration 8(a) certified firm. It already has several design and manufacturing contracts with the federal government.
“Baker Engineering has a tremendously innovative design and manufacturing team that is laser-focused on serving our customers,” said Mitchell. “We are confident these new management members will help us increase revenue and drive production growth in the coming years.”