In his role at GE Honda Aero Engines, Tim Varga brings more than 30 years of experience across engineering, product management, and executive leadership in the aircraft engine industry. He has held senior leadership positions at GE Aerospace, including Product Line Leader for Business Aviation Engines and Program Manager for the HF120, CF6, CF34, and CFE738 engine product lines, where he also held product safety board responsibilities for several of these engines.

Tim began his career as a design engineer and progressed through leadership roles in engineering, marketing, business development, and program management. Over the course of his career, he has worked extensively with global partners and customers, bringing a broad, international, and customer-focused perspective to his leadership at GE Honda Aero Engines.

Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Mel began his career at Bombardier Aerospace, where he held a series of technical and commercial leadership roles supporting major programs including the Q Series regional turboprop aircraft, the Challenger product line, and the CRJ fleet of aircraft. Before leaving Bombardier, Mel led the product planning & marketing of the Learjet family of aircraft.

Mel joined Honda Aero in 2006 to advance key marketing initiatives for the GE Honda Aero Engines joint venture. He soon became Marketing Manager, directing campaigns with airframe manufacturers, overseeing commercial negotiations, and managing media and government relations.

In 2012, as the HF120 engine approached entry into service on the HondaJet, his responsibilities expanded to include Customer Service. He built a new support organization, launched the highly successful Engine Maintenance Care (EMC) program, and established a global network of Authorized Service Providers (ASPs).

In 2016, he became Director of Marketing & Program Management for the HF120 Program.

From 2023 through the end of 2025, Mel served as President of GE Honda Aero Engines, guiding the company through its post COVID 19 operational recovery.

Mel holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa and an MBA in Strategic Management from McGill University in Montreal.

Andrea is a highly accomplished finance leader with more than 15 years of experience spanning financial operations, customer contract management, and strategic business support across manufacturing and aerospace environments.

Since joining Honda in 2014, she has built deep, end-to-end expertise across all major finance disciplines, including forecasting, cost management, compliance, operational efficiency, and executive-level reporting. For the past decade, Andrea has been a pivotal contributor to the GHAE program, serving as both Finance Manager and Customer Contracts Manager. In these roles, she has led program financials, customer negotiations, pricing strategy, long-term financial planning, and the alignment of contract outcomes with both customer expectations and organizational objectives. Her ability to pair strong financial acumen with effective relationship management makes her an essential strategic partner.

Her leadership approach is grounded in transparency, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. With her extensive finance background, proven program-level impact, and consistent high performance, she is well positioned for expanded executive responsibility.

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of West Georgia.

Justin started his aviation career with Atlantic Aero, a large independent business jet MRO shop, leading the maintenance of numerous business jet / turboprop models and providing regional AOG support for large Part 135 charter operators.

Justin joined Honda in 2011 to support the setup and validation of Honda’s test cell and the execution of the Initial Maintenance Interval (IMI) engine certification test. In 2013, Justin transitioned to on-site HF120 flight test support in Greensboro, NC and subsequently rose to the Field Technical Manager position for GE Honda. Working closely with the airframe OEM, he traveled the country supporting the Honda Jet certification effort. Post certification, Justin played a key role in the setup and on-boarding of GHAE’s new Authorized Service Providers (ASP) to ensure smooth entry-into-service of the HF120 engine. By providing timely guidance, training, and on-site support, Justin works hand in hand with the global Authorized Service Provider (ASP) network to ensure the best possible support and customer experience.

Mike joined GE Aviation more than thirty years ago in a role that allowed him to work directly with customers. Later, he became an engineering lead for GE’s MRO shop and held positions in engine overhaul sales for the US and Asia. Mike was a pioneer in the development and management of GE’s highly successful Maintenance Cost Per Hour (MCPH) programs. Then, he led the Customer Service organization for all GE MRO facilities worldwide before attaining a Six Sigma Master Black Belt leadership position. In 2011, Mike joined the GE Honda team as Manager of Customer and Product Support.

Yu Takiguchi has led key technical and program advancements across the HF120 turbofan engine lifecycle. Since joining Honda R&D in 2010, Takiguchi has taken on increasing leadership responsibility across control systems, performance, and operability, ultimately guiding cross-functional teams in power management design, engine simulation, and data-driven performance optimization. He played a critical role in leading post-entry-into-service efforts, using in-service field data to drive measurable improvements in engine reliability and operational performance.

Takiguchi has held several leadership roles within the HF120 program, including leading the Honda-side performance and operability team and serving as Assistant Project Leader, where he contributed to major technical reviews and strategic program decisions.

In 2026, he was named a Chief Engineer for the HF120 program, responsible for sustaining engineering, design evolution, and overall technical governance, ensuring the engine continues to deliver best-in-class durability, efficiency, and customer value.