Aerospace Industries Association
SMC Spotlight: Joe Battaglia
SMC Spotlight: Joe Battaglia
President, Telephonics Corporation
Joe Battaglia is proof that sometimes things come full circle. When he became president of Telephonics Corporation, he was surprised to discover that there were many familiar faces at the small company he took over.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s in Applied Physics from Adelphi University, Battaglia got his start as a junior engineer at AIL Systems Inc. in Deer Park, New York, where he worked for nearly 12 ½ years. Since then, he has held various positions at a number of larger defense industry leaders until becoming President of Telephonics Corporation, a world leader in integrated information and communication systems technology.
Established in 1933 as a small manufacturer of industry standard headsets used primarily in the field of audiology for hearing tests, Telephonics evolved through development of creative, patented, advanced technology, from making headsets to designing, developing and manufacturing the entire entertainment system for aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Lockheed L-1011 jumbo jets. These early developments led to an entrée into the military intercommunication system market, a market which Telephonics dominates today.
As a result of an acquisition made in 1989, Telephonics catapulted into the maritime surveillance radar market for military, para-military and civil applications. In addition to radar, this acquisition led to identification friend or foe (IFF) systems, civil air traffic management systems and a variety of airborne and land-based instrument landing systems for both military and civil applications. The company now provides cutting edge electronic systems and systems engineering and analysis services for the defense department and industry partners such as Boeing Aircraft, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky Aircraft.
When Battaglia joined the company, Telephonics’ employment stood at just under 600 employees with annual revenue of under $100 million. Over a period of 19 years, Battaglia has led the expansion of Telephonics to annual revenue of more than $400 million with over 1,300 employees. Battaglia is confident the company will continue on significant growth path in future years.
“We anticipate our company will expand through both continued organic growth as well as through meaningful and synergistic acquisitions. I hope to reach the $1 billion revenue mark within the next 3 or 4 years,” he said. “As a high technology company in the aerospace industry, Telephonics strives to ‘push the technology envelope’ not only in maximizing the performance and capabilities of our systems, but in achieving the high reliability our customers need at cost effective prices.”
Born in Caserta, Italy, and with business travels taking him to all parts of the world, Battaglia leads a global lifestyle as both an individual and as a businessman. With 30 percent of Telephonics’ annual revenue coming from international opportunities, Battaglia recognizes the need for, and the importance of, international cooperation to achieve success in all business endeavors. He encourages all U.S. aerospace companies to maintain their technological leadership and to tap into global markets to fuel the future growth of their companies.
Just as U.S. companies adapt to changing markets, Battaglia did the same throughout his career. After working at AIL as a radar engineer and program manager, he accepted a position of Director of Advanced Millimeter Wave Systems with Martin Marietta Corporation in Orlando, FL. Approximately 8 very successful years later he was offered a Vice Presidential position with Litton Industries’ Laser Systems Division where he stayed for five years. He then became General Manager of Lockheed Electronics’ Radar Division in Plainfield, NJ and played a key role in merging this division’s products with another Lockheed division in Nashua, NH.
In 1990, an executive search firm presented an opportunity to Mr. Battaglia to become President of an electronics company in Farmingdale, NY named Telephonics. In researching the company he discovered that there were many familiar people employed there because the company had recently acquired the division of AIL where he had begun his career. He accepted the position and over the last 19 years has focused on integrating, expanding, and modernizing all of the company’s operations. Mr. Battaglia recognizes the importance of delivering a quality product on time and cost effectively to his customers. As such, he strives to create a close knit teamwork atmosphere throughout his leadership team and the company as a whole.
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has provided Telephonics with greater access to industry information as well as a place to interact with like-minded leaders in the aerospace community. Battaglia said that “being an AIA member has allowed Telephonics to keep abreast of industry trends, new laws and business practices, and new, industry-wide processes and procedures to help me run the company”. Battaglia advised other aerospace suppliers and manufacturers within this competitive industry to join AIA and become active.