Aaron Starks
CEO & President
Aaron Starks is a nationally recognized ecosystem architect and coalition builder at the forefront of aerospace, defense, advanced air mobility, and space innovation. As CEO and President of 47G – Utah Aerospace & Defense, he leads a statewide effort to build one of America’s premier aerospace and national security ecosystems - uniting industry executives, defense primes, startups, policymakers, research universities, and capital partners around a shared strategic vision.
Under Starks’ leadership, Utah established the nation’s first coordinated Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem - aligning state agencies, airport authorities, federal regulators, and global OEMs to operationalize next-generation electric aviation. With a focus on deployment ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics, he has driven infrastructure planning, regulatory acceleration, and public-private alignment to position Utah as a national proving ground for airspace integration, cargo delivery, and future passenger operations.
Starks was also the visionary behind advancing a spaceport initiative in Utah, recognizing the strategic importance of integrating the state into the commercial space economy and strengthening America’s national security posture. Through disciplined coalition-building and federal engagement, he helped lay the groundwork for launch capabilities, aerospace manufacturing expansion, and long-term space sector competitiveness.
In recognition of his commitment to national defense and community leadership, Starks was selected to serve as an Honorary Commander at Hill Air Force Base, where he is assigned to the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program. The role reflects his ongoing engagement with military leadership and his support for the men and women safeguarding America’s strategic deterrence mission.
His leadership is defined by urgency, execution, and partnership. He has built durable alliances across state and federal agencies, industry OEMs, and academic institutions - ensuring innovators have access to capital, regulatory clarity, infrastructure, and strategic connectivity necessary to scale. In recognition of his impact on Utah’s economic and innovation landscape, he was honored as Utah Business magazine's Leader of the Year in 2023.
Prior to leading 47G, Starks played a pivotal role in FranklinCovey’s global expansion across 23 countries in Asia, establishing the company’s education division headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. He later joined World Trade Center Utah, where he worked with nearly 100 companies to expand global market access, diversify supply chains, and strengthen international distribution networks.
A first-generation college graduate and native of Huntsville, Utah, Starks earned degrees in Political Science from the University of Utah and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Beyond his professional work, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera and on the United States Global Leadership Coalition’s Utah Advisory Committee.
Starks resides in South Jordan, Utah, with his wife and three children.
