David J. Nieuwsma is the vice president and general manager of Airborne Solutions, Government Systems for Rockwell Collins. In this capacity, he has full responsibility for profit and loss, customer relationship management, program execution, and new business pursuits for the Airborne Solutions business portfolio. This business area has responsibility for all airborne platforms, which perform various roles such as fighter, bomber, trainer, mobility, tanker, cargo, VIP transport, search and rescue, utility, and unmanned aerial systems.
Nieuwsma began his career in 1986 as an acquisition project officer assigned to the Ballistic Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command located at Norton Air Force Base, Calif.
Nieuwsma has been at Rockwell Collins since 1991, serving in multiple leadership roles across the company's commercial and government systems business. He has served as director, Product Line Management; senior director, Army/Navy Integrated Systems Engineering, responsible for providing solutions supporting the Army and Navy portfolios within Integrated Systems; senior director, Air Force Programs; and senior director, Tanker/Transport Solutions. In May 2010, Nieuwsma was appointed as vice president and general manager, Mobility and Rotary Wing Solutions. He was named to his current role in October 2011.
Nieuwsma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the United States Air Force Academy, a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Chapman College, and a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Iowa.