47G Names Croshaw Interim President
Aaron Starks steps down as president and CEO of the Utah aerospace and defense group, with Matthew Croshaw serving as interim leader.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
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47G announced that Aaron Starks will transition from president and CEO effective December 15, 2026, and that Matthew Croshaw will assume the interim president role beginning December 16, 2026. The 47G board of directors is conducting a search for a permanent successor.
Why it matters
The leadership change comes as 47G, which helped rebrand the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association in 2022, works to keep its aerospace and defense network growing in Utah. Starks will remain in an advisory capacity during the transition.
47G works with 240 companies across 18 states, while aerospace and defense accounts for nearly 20% of Utah's annual GDP. The board has not said how long its search for a permanent successor will take.
The players
Aaron Starks
Starks, who helped rebrand the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association as 47G in 2022, is stepping down as president and CEO and will remain in an advisory capacity.
Matthew Croshaw
Croshaw, 47G's chief operating officer, will serve as interim president while continuing his operational duties.
47G
47G is the Utah-based aerospace and defense association formerly known as the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association, which works with 240 companies across 18 states.
The details
The 47G board of directors announced the leadership change in a public statement on Friday. Croshaw, who serves as chief operating officer, will oversee day-to-day operations during the transition.
Timeline
Project ALTA launched in 2024 in partnership with the governor's office, the Utah Department of Transportation, and the Utah Inland Port Authority.
Starks's departure as president and CEO takes effect December 15, 2026.
Croshaw begins as interim president December 16, 2026.
Market Landscape
The leadership change comes as Project ALTA, launched in 2024 with the governor's office and state transportation and inland port agencies, keeps Utah's aerospace push moving forward under executive director Chris Metts. Aerospace and defense already accounts for nearly 20% of Utah's annual GDP, which makes the choice of a permanent successor a question about the state's largest industry cluster.
For members and partners of 47G, the transition means Croshaw will manage daily operations while the board searches for a permanent leader. Companies working through the association should expect continuity in programs during the interim period, though the board has not outlined any changes to services.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at membership associations often set the direction for regional industry networks for years, so the choice of Starks's successor will signal where 47G heads next. Readers tracking Utah's aerospace sector should watch for the board's announcement.
What happens next
The 47G board is conducting a search for a permanent successor to Aaron Starks, with no date yet set for an announcement.
Further reading
For more on executive moves shaping the state's industries, see People coverage across Utah business.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deseret News.
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