Wilder Industries Appoints Col. (Ret.) Abby Ruscetta to Advisory Board
Former 72nd Air Base Wing Commander brings nearly three decades of U.S. Air Force aircraft maintenance, logistics and sustainment leadership to Wilder Industries.
[DALLAS, TEXAS] — [SEPTEMBER 10, 2026] — Wilder Industries today announced the appointment of Col. (Ret.) Abby Ruscetta to its Advisory Board, adding nearly three decades of U.S. Air Force leadership and aircraft maintenance experience as the company expands its support for next-generation aerospace and defense programs.
Abby retired as an Air Force Colonel with 28 years of service, the last seven years at Tinker Air Force Base, leading the OC-ALC depot as Vice Commander and commanding the 72nd Air Base Wing. She ran the largest single-site employer in the state of Oklahoma, overseeing 27,000+ employees and managing $5.4 billion in resources. Her career spans the full spectrum of military logistics: from leading mechanics on fighter jets as a young officer in Germany and Korea, to shaping sustainment policy at the Pentagon, to commanding thousands of maintainers keeping combat aircraft in the fight.
Her experience in aircraft maintenance, logistics, sustainment and large-scale operations brings an important perspective to Wilder Industries as the company continues building an integrated manufacturing platform for drones, autonomous systems, advanced airframe structures and other aerospace and defense applications.
“Abby understands what it takes to support complex aircraft and defense programs where quality, reliability and execution are mission-critical,” said Will Wilder, Founder and CEO of Wilder Industries. “Her experience leading large organizations and managing significant Air Force resources gives her a perspective that will be invaluable as we continue building manufacturing solutions designed to support our customers from development through production and sustainment.”
Manufacturing With the Mission in Mind
For aerospace and defense manufacturers, successfully moving a new platform into production requires more than the ability to make individual components. Production systems must deliver repeatability, quality and scalability while supporting the long-term operational requirements of the platform.
Ruscetta’s background provides Wilder Industries with firsthand insight into what happens after an aircraft or system enters service—and why manufacturing decisions made early in a program can have lasting implications for maintenance, readiness and sustainment.
That perspective aligns closely with Wilder Industries’ approach to Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Automation (DFA).
By working with customers earlier in product development, Wilder helps engineering teams consider how designs will be manufactured, assembled and scaled before they reach full-rate production.
“Manufacturing decisions ultimately affect much more than the production floor,” Wilder said. “They can influence quality, maintainability, production rate and the long-term readiness of a platform. Abby brings decades of experience looking at aerospace systems through that broader operational lens.”
Supporting Next-Generation Aerospace and Defense Programs
Wilder Industries is developing an integrated manufacturing model designed for emerging aerospace and defense companies seeking to move complex platforms from product development into scalable production.
The company’s capabilities include:
- Drone and autonomous systems manufacturing
- Airframe structures manufacturing
- Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
- Design for Automation (DFA)
- Hard metal machining
- Precision sheet metal fabrication
- CNC machining
- Robotic assembly
By combining engineering collaboration, precision manufacturing and automation, Wilder Industries aims to give customers a more integrated path from initial design through repeatable production.
Ruscetta will advise the company as Wilder continues expanding these capabilities and supporting customers operating in demanding aerospace and defense environments.
“The aerospace and defense industry depends on manufacturing systems that can deliver quality and reliability at scale,” said Ruscetta. “I’m excited to support Wilder Industries as the team builds capabilities designed around the needs of next-generation programs and the missions those platforms will ultimately support.”
Her appointment continues Wilder Industries’ expansion of its Advisory Board, bringing together leaders with experience across aerospace operations, manufacturing engineering, defense sustainment and strategic growth.
About Wilder Industries
Wilder Industries is an advanced manufacturing company supporting the next generation of aerospace and defense companies. The company provides integrated manufacturing solutions spanning Design for Manufacturing, Design for Automation, precision sheet metal fabrication, hard metal and CNC machining, and robotic assembly.
Wilder Industries works with companies developing drones, autonomous systems, eVTOL aircraft, airframe structures and other advanced platforms, helping customers transition efficiently from product development to scalable production.
Media Contact
Ron Castro
Director Sales & Business Development | Wilder Systems Inc
Mobile: 206-953-9887 Dallas TX.