Janicki Industries names former Air Force colonel to lead Montana campus operations

Janicki Industries has hired Daniel J. Voorhies as senior director of operations for its new Great Falls, Montana, manufacturing campus. The move comes as the aerospace and defense supplier ramps up a facility expected to support more than 1,000 jobs within five years.

Why it matters: - Janicki Industries is adding an operations leader with deep military and logistics experience as the company scales a new manufacturing campus in Great Falls. - The Great Falls site is expected to become a major regional employer, with more than 1,000 jobs within five years and 2,000 or more at full build-out. - The campus expansion adds to Montana’s aerospace and defense manufacturing footprint.

What happened: - Janicki Industries announced that Daniel J. Voorhies has joined the company as senior director of operations for its new Great Falls manufacturing campus. - Voorhies retired earlier this year after 25 years in the U.S. Air Force. - His most recent Air Force role was commander of the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base. - Voorhies began his role at Janicki Industries in September.

The details: - Janicki describes the Great Falls facility as a roughly 1.6 million-square-foot campus. - Janicki expects the site to support more than 1,000 jobs within five years and 2,000 or more at full build-out. - As senior director of operations, Voorhies will oversee day-to-day operations at the Great Falls campus. - While leading the 341st Missile Wing, Voorhies was responsible for 4,200 Airmen, civilians and contractors tied to a third of the nation’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile force. - His Air Force background includes ICBM operations and evaluation assignments, a tour on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, and senior leadership roles at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. - As vice wing commander, Voorhies oversaw an operating budget of more than $95 million. - As wing commander, Voorhies managed an annual operating budget of more than $160 million and oversaw assets valued at more than $6 billion. - Voorhies holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Air War College, a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University. - Janicki Industries is a privately owned engineering and manufacturing company that designs and builds composite and metallic tooling, parts, prototypes and assembled structures for aerospace, defense, space, marine and other industries. - Janicki says it is one of the largest privately owned Tier 1 aerospace suppliers in the United States. - Janicki is recruiting engineers and technical team members for the Montana campus. - Open roles will be posted on the careers page. - Questions about the Montana expansion can be sent to montanainfo@janicki.com. - Janicki also directs readers to learn more.

Between the lines: - Janicki is leaning on military leadership experience to help run a highly scaled manufacturing operation. - The hire signals that the company wants disciplined operational leadership as it transitions the Great Falls campus from expansion phase to broader production ramp-up. - The company’s mention of armed forces veterans suggests a recruiting and leadership strategy that favors prior service experience.

What's next: - Janicki will continue hiring engineers and technical employees for the Montana campus. - The Great Falls facility will keep ramping toward its multi-year employment target and eventual full build-out. - The company says additional openings will be posted as they become available.