James (Rick) Knight

James (Rick) Knight brings almost 30 years of experience to his role as Executive Vice President of International Sales for Knight Aerospace.

Rick graduated from San Antonio College in 1981 with an Associate Degree in Drafting & Design and continued his education at various University of Texas schools, studying engineering and business management throughout his career.

Upon his graduation from San Antonio College, Rick began his career at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas, as a Facilities Designer involved in new installations and upgrades in the semiconductor factories and processing plants at Texas Instruments. After two years, he transferred to Texas Instruments in Lewisville, Texas, to the position of Manufacturing Planner. He was instrumental in the construction of over 5 million square feet of new factory space and test labs for the production of the HARM Missile and various other secure programs.

In 1989, Knight joined KWD Manufacturing as a Senior Designer responsible for designing Aircraft Ground Support Equipment and roll-on/roll-off modular and palletized interiors for the C-130 aircraft.

In 1992, Rick and his father founded Knight Aerospace Products, Inc. (KAPI), a family-owned small business in San Antonio, Texas, concentrating on aircraft ground support equipment for the C-130 aircraft. Together, they expanded the company, adding roll-on/roll-off modular and palletized interiors and included additional airframes such as C-130J, C-17, C-27J, CN235, and C-295.

In 2014, Rick was a founding member of Knight Aerospace Medical Systems, forming strong relationships with major OEMs such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Airbus, and Leonardo. In his current role, Rick is focused on sales to over 25 nations throughout the world.

“I’m proud to be a part of Knight Aerospace, which is recognized as the premier provider of customized products in the aerospace industry,” he said. “Our global relationships and exceptional customer service are major reasons why.”