About the Author

Ray Leoni's professional career was with Sikorsky Aircraft from college graduation, through 41 years of service and three years of advance design consulting work, until his retirement. He started as a design engineer of helicopter transmission and rotor systems and later became a designer participating in new V/STOL concepts and helicopter designs. He conducted concept formulation studies for the Army UTTAS program and led the team whose design was proposed to the Army for what later became the BLACK HAWK helicopter. After contract award to Sikorsky for the BLACK HAWK prototype program, Mr. Leoni was appointed Program Engineering Manager responsible for all BLACK HAWK engineering design and test activities. He was awarded the design patent for BLACK HAWK as well as nine other patents. He also served as Program Manager through the later stages of development until Sikorsky won the BLACK HAWK production contract. Mr. Leoni was appointed Vice President for Research and Engineering shortly after his BLACK HAWK assignments and later became Senior Vice President, Engineering and Advanced Programs. Mr. Leoni received his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Brown University and Master of Engineering degree from Yale University. A long time member of the American Helicopter Society he received