The Grainger College of Engineering
Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering

Bradley Mottier

Bradley Mottier
Bradley Mottier

Bradley D. Mottier retired from the General Electric Company (now GE Aerospace) in 2023 as Senior Vice President & General Manager of GE Aviation Systems, where he also served as President and CEO.  Throughout his tenure, he played a pivotal role in integrating and advancing GE's aviation technologies, consolidating its non-engine aviation products into a unified business unit.

Mottier graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS and MS in Engineering and an MBA from the University of Chicago.  He also earned his pilot license from the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation.   

Mottier's career began at Unison Industries, a manufacturer of proprietary electrical and mechanical systems for aerospace applications. He joined Unison while in graduate school and progressed through engineering, supply chain, marketing, sales, and senior management roles. He is also an inventor with several patents in ignition technologies.  After GE acquired Unison in 2002, he continued to lead the company and later transitioned into key leadership positions at GE Aviation, where he was instrumental in expanding GE's presence in the business and general aviation sector. 

A dedicated industry advocate, Mottier served as chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) in 2013, where he helped pass the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, mandating FAA modernization of small aircraft certification standards. He has also held leadership roles in regulatory affairs, advising on policy and safety standards. In 2019, he was appointed to the U.S. Department of Transportation Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC), contributing to nationwide aviation safety reforms.   

Mottier's leadership and innovation have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including: 

  • Aviation Week & Space Technology Laureate Award (2014) – Honoring his contributions to small-engine market advancements. 

  • GE Chairman’s Award (2016) – Recognizing his empowering and inspiring leadership at GE Aviation. Beyond his corporate achievements, Mottier has been a strong supporter of the University of Illinois and the Department of Industrial & Enterprise Systems Engineering (ISE). He is a member of the University of Illinois President’s Council, became a Distinguished Alumnus of the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois in 2011, and in 2016 established the Mottier Innovation Challenge, an annual competition fostering interdisciplinary problem-solving and entrepreneurship among students. 

 Mottier also dedicates his time to philanthropy and community service. He serves as a director of the Sontag Foundation, which funds brain cancer research, and volunteers as a mission pilot for Patient Airlift Services, transporting critically ill patients to receive medical care. 

A passionate aviator, Mottier is an aircraft owner and historic race car enthusiast, and he enjoys woodworking and fly fishing. He resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife Jennifer, and together they have three children and three grandchildren.