As CIRI’s CEO, Swami Iyer manages the overall direction of CIRI and sets the company’s long-strategy. Swami has 25 years of leadership experience in multi-billion dollar international and domestic companies and projects. Iyer joins CIRI from Aerospace Systems for Virgin Galactic, where, as President, he was responsible for leading the manufacturing, engineering and program management teams, processes, and facilities to support the design and build of its current and future fleet of vehicles. Prior to that Swami successfully led GKN Advanced Defense Systems and was responsible for all of GKN Aerospace’s classified US subsidiaries. He completed $500 million in mergers and integration of three highly classified aerospace and defense companies. He also established more than a $1 billion global supply chain and production ecosystem and spearheaded $6 billion in new aviation sales with the US Department of State and the Department of Defense.

Swami is a proud veteran who earned multiple aerial and combat medals and two humanitarian service medals. He retired from the US Airforce after a lengthy career, most recently serving as the South Asia and Oceania Chief for the US Air Force under the Deputy Under Secretary, International Affairs. During his service he oversaw a $25B FMS portfolio across 21 countries and several Defense OEMs in the Asia-Pacific and was responsible for capture and management of the $7 Billion US–India defense trade portfolio.

An accomplished US Air Force test pilot, Swami logged over 3,500 hours during his military flying career – including more than 100 combat hours. Swami holds three degrees, a master’s degree in aerospace engineering and bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, both from the University of Michigan as well as a master’s degree in Flight Test Engineering from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.