Successful Program Management in Action: Leonardo Helicopters and HPM
Leonardo Helicopters recently set out to expand its operations in Milton, Florida with a goal to add a location in close proximity to support Naval Air Station Whiting Field, but additionally, Leonardo aimed to create a new facility to strengthen Florida’s aerospace industry, bring jobs to the local economy and foster long-term community engagement.
“We’ve established a business, but we are also a member of the community economic development, jobs, community engagement. You name it, we’re part of that,” Leonardo CEO Clyde Woltman said.
Leonardo Helicopters chose to partner with HPM to assist in bringing their vision to life. Project leaders understood the need to efficiently collaborate with not only Leonardo, but also the Department of Defense and state and federal agencies. The collaboration soon became a model for how transparency, communication and shared purpose can drive successful aerospace projects.
“If I were to write a case study—with all sincerity—this would be it,” Woltman said. “The partnership with HPM has been an absolute success story. Communication was clear, challenges were met head-on, and there were no surprises. It’s been nothing short of perfection—in time, in budget, and in execution.”
Support with Community Mindset
Leonardo’s new facility spans 73,000 square feet. It includes four large hangar bays, major component repair and overhaul, transmission work, a Dynamic Test Bench, a full-sized paint booth, and all associated tooling and equipment.
To better serve the needs of this fleet and more than 1,000 Leonardo aircraft that are operating throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Central America, the company worked closely with partners at Santa Rosa County and Space Florida to select a site at Whiting Aviation Park for its new comprehensive customer support facility.
The process from groundbreaking to occupancy was completed in just 154 days – on time, under budget, and with zero injuries.
“Those of us in this business know how rare that is,” Woltman said. “That’s something to truly recognize and celebrate.”
For HPM, the success was not just measured in metrics, but in relationships built. Alan Butler, Senior Project Manager at HPM, reflected on how trust evolved throughout the process.
“This was our first project with Leonardo,” Butler said. “At first, they didn’t know what to expect—but over the course of the project, we demonstrated that we’re subject matter experts and partners they can rely on.”
That trust deepened when the facility was complete and Leonardo turned to HPM again, this time for continued facility management.
“They said, ‘We don’t have someone to manage the facility right now. Can HPM handle it?’” Butler recalled. “Now, we’re stationed here managing operations and continuing to support their team.”
More Than a Project
The Leonardo Helicopters Milton facility stands as a testament to what’s possible when communication, expertise, and shared commitment come together. It’s a project that not only met operational goals but also strengthened local partnerships and created lasting community impact.
As Woltman put it, “It’s everything we want a partnership to be—open, clear, and collaborative from start to finish.”
Discover more about HPM’s project with Leonardo Helicopters.
