Tom Burke Joins GA-ASI
Retired RAF Air Vice-Marshal to Lead GA-ASI’s Strategic Development in the UK
SAN DIEGO, August 27, 2026. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) welcomes Tom Burke, retired Air Vice-Marshal for the Royal Air Force (RAF), as the company’s new Vice President of International Strategic Development for the United Kingdom.
“We’re thrilled to have Tom join the GA-ASI team,” said Aria Mahdion, Regional Vice President for GA-ASI. “He brings deep experience as a Royal Air Force senior leader, and we will draw on his strong regional background in support our UK customer. Tom brings a distinctive perspective as a former Tornado pilot and MQ-9A Reaper® Squadron Commander, with combat experience on both types — providing valuable insights in today’s conflict environment.”
The RAF is currently flying the Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) produced by GA-ASI, which replaced the UK Reaper. Protector is a model of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®, customized to UK requirements.
In his new role with GA-ASI, Mr. Burke will be the primary contact for future and ongoing business with UK Defence and adjacent markets. He will work out of the General Atomics’ London office.
Mr. Burke has commanded at the Squadron, Wing and 2-star operational levels over a 35-year military career. His operational flying experience included spells over the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, alongside NATO and US allies. He served as an embed with the US military, instructing at the US Air Force Staff College, as the Director of the 609th Air Operations Center in Qatar, and later as the Vice Director of Operations at Headquarters US European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. His final RAF position was as Air Officer Commanding No. 11 Group, responsible for UK air operations globally and as the UK’s Air Defence Commander.
