AE Industrial Partners, LP (“AE Industrial”), a private investment firm focused on technologies and services considered critical to national and economic security, today announced that Michael Calderone has joined its Aerospace Leasing team as a Managing Director. In this role, he will be responsible for managing and originating finance and leasing transactions across the business and special mission aviation segments.
Michael joins AE Industrial with more than 30 years of experience spanning global aerospace companies and military service. Previously, he served as Regional Vice President at Bombardier Defense and as Director of Business Development for Special Mission Aircraft at L3 Technologies. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard, Michael served as Military Aide to the Secretary of Homeland Security in the Army and as a Fleet Modernization and Sustainment Program Manager in the Coast Guard. He is also a rated rotary- and fixed-wing test pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours.
“Michael has seen these transactions from every angle – operations for the government, managing programs for the defense primes and selling aircraft at the OEM,” said Nathan Dickstein, Partner and Head of Aerospace Leasing at AE Industrial. “As we invest, that perspective will help us originate new opportunities across business and special mission aviation assets.”
Established in 2020, the AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing platform focuses on asset-backed strategies across commercial, business and special mission aviation assets designed to produce income and capital appreciation for its investors. Leveraging a dedicated team of experienced investment professionals, AE Industrial has partnered with operators in both developed and emerging markets, as well as providers of business aviation solutions and specialized, mission-specific aircraft.
“With a distinguished reputation in the aerospace industry, AE Industrial has built an exceptional leasing platform that serves a critical niche within the aviation ecosystem,” added Michael. “I look forward to working with the team to identify new avenues for growth, capitalize on robust industry tailwinds, and expand the platform’s special mission presence.”
Michael holds a BS in Business Management from the Florida Institute of Technology, an MS in Management from Troy University and an MBA from North Central University.
About AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing
AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing, the leasing platform of AE Industrial Partners, invests in asset-backed opportunities across the commercial, business and special mission aerospace sectors. The dedicated investment team focuses on offering bespoke leasing solutions to its global customer base of airlines, corporates and government entities. Leveraging the team’s deep technical knowledge and aircraft management expertise, AE Industrial Aerospace Leasing seeks to build diversified, income-producing portfolios by opportunistically investing in assets under operating and finance leases. For more information, please visit www.aeroequity.com/aerospace-leasing/.
About AE Industrial Partners
AE Industrial Partners is a private investment firm with approximately $9.4 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2026, focused on investing in technologies and services considered critical to national & economic security. Since 2015, AE Industrial has completed more than 155 investments in market-leading companies that benefit from its deep industry knowledge, operating experience and network of relationships across the sectors where the Firm invests (national security, aerospace and industrial services). With a commitment to driving value creation in partnership with the management teams of its portfolio companies, AE Industrial invests across private equity, venture capital and aerospace leasing. AE Industrial is headquartered in Boca Raton, FL and has an office in Washington, D.C. Learn more at www.aeroequity.com.
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