Careers at Safran DSI

Read below to learn more about Ed Fortunato, Safran DSI's EVP, Strategy & Business Development, and his career with the United States Army. 

What branch of the military did you serve in and for how long did you serve? 

Army officer for 20 years. I served as an Army Aviation and Acquisition officer

What were your duties?

I was an operational aviation leader responsible for all aviation operations to include the maintenance of Black Hawk helicopters, training and customer support.  As an aviation program manager I managed cost, schedule and performance of both legacy fleet and new aircraft and their systems.  I worked with industry and their suppliers to align requirements with capabilities and deliver aircraft on time.  I also had the opportunity to serve as the Secretary of the Army’s representative to Congress for aviation programs.  I interfaced with the Armed Services Committees in the House and Senate as well as the White House.

What motivated you to serve in the military?

My father was an Army officer and I enjoyed moving around the world and meeting new people.  I found it a truly honorable profession and richly rewarding career.

How long have you been employed by Safran and what are your responsibilities? 

I started working for Safran DSI in May [2024] when we established the new SSA.  I am responsible for helping develop the long term strategy and business development roadmap to position DSI for growth with the Dept of Defense.  I also help the BUs with connectivity at the senior leader levels within the pentagon and industry to foster growth and partnering.

What skills learned in the military are you able to apply at Safran? 

Everything! How to lead and manage people and plan and execute operations.  The importance of balancing process with performance, time management, leader development, teamwork, collaboration, communication and valuing different perspectives.

In your opinion, what do veterans bring to the workplace?

In DSI we come to work every day to provide technology and capabilities that allow our Soldiers to perform their mission successfully and return safely. Veterans can help put a personal touch on what we do and why through their experience.  They also bring an operational point of view that can assist in the development and testing of technologies.

Can you share a story from your military service that highlights the power of teamwork?

Every combat operation, every helicopter program, every piece of legislation required the hard work of a team.  Individual contributions conducted with the understanding that what they did mattered and impacted a greater good.

Were you impacted by a sense of camaraderie during the military? If so, in what ways?

Yes. The military is a very fraternal organization with shared values and focus.  The extreme challenges in training and operations bond people together in ways that cannot be experienced in many other professions. There is a shared value and ethos that allows, that demands success.  It is a lot of responsibility and the camaraderie is what allows people to do extraordinary things in difficult circumstances.