About Us
History
Founded in 1992, Avion Solutions, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned company with a reputation of excellence and reliability in delivering innovative, high-quality solutions. Avion is dedicated to protecting the Warfighter by supporting the Department of Defense in systems engineering, airworthiness, logistics, integrated product support, model-based systems engineering, modeling & simulation, and programmatic support. We have earned multiple Small Business of the Year awards and we are an eight-time winner of the Best Places to Work ® awards.
MISSION
Our Employee Owners provide visionary ideas and versatile solutions for the communities we serve.
VISION
Exceed customer expectations, outperform our competition, and improve our community.
VALUES
Loyalty
Integrity
Service
Employee satisfaction
Employee Spotlights
Emanuel Pierre - Program Manager
The tradition of challenge coins finds its roots in Roman times, and they have evolved into meaningful tokens that represents the shared experience of their recipients. As a former military serviceman, Manny has accumulated several challenge coins over the years. In our discussion, he graciously shared his top three cherished coins, each with a unique story.
The first coin holds great significance for Manny as it was presented to him during a recruiting tour in New York. Representing Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and veterans, he and MG. Hagenbeck had the honor of ringing the New York Stock Exchange bell as the city began to rebuild after the 9/11 attacks. It was a moment of triumph and resilience that made it one of his favorite coins.
The second coin was given to Manny by the Army Surgeon General in 2023 at the AAAA Conference in Nashville, recognizing his service. Manny was an attack pilot in Afghanistan when he and his co-pilot experienced a devastating aircraft crash. They were rescued and brought to safety, but the road to recovery was arduous, taking more than a year of hard work and determination. This experience inspired Manny to become an Aeromedical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) pilot, serving in the system that helped save his life.
The third and most treasured coin was given to him by Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) Mike Novosel during a ceremony for AAAA’s prestigious Unit of The Year Award. With his unit still deployed, he and his copilot from the crash were still recovering, when they were asked to represent the team during the ceremony. This gave him the opportunity to speak with CW4 Novosel. They discussed the difficulties of their experiences and how to cope with them. CW4 Novosel gave Manny his challenge coin in response, saying, “It gets better, but it doesn’t go away.” The challenge coin has become a poignant reminder that while sorrow may linger, we can grow around it to embrace joy, life, and peace.
These coins have one common thread that reflects Manny’s values: family, honor, and duty. Manny sees these values mirrored in Avion’s culture of integrity, loyalty, and service.
Anna Norton - Senior Program Manager
After a seven-year stint as a schoolteacher, Anna decided to take a leap and leave the chemistry classroom behind. In the mid-1980s, she started working with—what later became—the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). “We have been working on the ability to defend our troops and our homeland, and that’s a true calling in my mind.”
Eventually, in 2001, her decision led to her co-founding SRA, Inc., which specialized in test planning and analysis, software development, and modeling and simulation for Space and Missile Defense programs. Since Avion Solutions acquired SRA, Inc. earlier this year, the Missiles and Space team has continued to be involved with missile testing, supporting the process from the design of the target to the end analysis.
“Our customers have followed us no matter where we moved from; it’s about the quality of the technical work we do,” Anna explained. Over the years, she has seen the MDA change as new innovations and processes were developed, but Anna has always remained unwavering on one thing: the quality of service she and her team provide.
A fun fact about Anna is that she and her family are huge foodies. In fact, her son is a chef in Nashville, and they love to go on ‘research trips’ around the world to try out different restaurants. In Peru, they had the opportunity to have a seventeen-course meal at Central in Lima, which has since been ranked as the number one Best Restaurant in The World.
Tracy Davis - Program Manager
Tracy Davis is a Program Manager for an Avion Solutions task order supporting the U.S. Army Systems Readiness Directorate. Tracy joined the Army at 17 years old and dedicated over 25 years to active-duty service. Starting in the infantry, he transitioned into aviation, becoming a medevac pilot, maintenance test pilot, and eventually a maintenance technician before retiring. Shortly after retirement, he joined Avion, appreciating the opportunity to be part of an employee-owned company.
Tracy’s leadership extends beyond his role as a Program Manager. This year, he played a crucial role as an Avion Solutions coach for the Huntsville Heart Walk. Tracy recruited a strong team of Avion employee owners who support operations, leading the company to rank among the Top Ten in Huntsville for both participants and funds raised!
Tracy’s support of American Heart Association is very personal – in 2022, he suffered a near-fatal heart attack. His recovery, supported by first responders and medical advancements, fueled his passion for the nonprofit. “It felt like all my charitable contributions were coming back to benefit me,” he reflected, highlighting the profound personal impact of the AHA’s work to educate and help prevent heart disease.
Tracy enjoyed this year’s Heart Walk. “It was great to see not only the support of the company and community but to know, as a survivor, I was not alone,” he reflected. Tracy emphasized the importance of awareness and connection, stating, “Everyone knows somebody who has had a heart attack. Seeing that awareness and making a connection, knowing you can help those around you, and together, we are all making a difference.” Tracy’s journey from a heart attack survivor to a Heart Walk Coach is a story of triumph and resilience.
Outside of the office, Tracy enjoys working on home improvements, landscaping, and spending time with his four dogs—a Belgian Malinois, a lab-pit mix, a Yorkie, and a Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix.