Erdal Gülcüler, one of the founders of AAES Group of Companies, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Yıldız Technical University's Mechanical Engineering Faculty in 1986 and a master’s degree from Middle East Technical University's Mechanical Engineering Faculty in 1990. He began his professional career at MNG Group in 1987. Later, he held various managerial position in Good Year Tire Company and Arçelik White Good Company. He started his entrepreneurial life by establishing his own companies in 2009.He is responsible for developing marketing strategies and long-term business plans for the company's operations, as well as designing household products. Erdal has extensive global experience in multiple industries, including construction, manufacturing, and marketing. He has led and built large business development programs focused on opportunity identification, development, and long-term strategy creation. With his self-starting personality, he demonstrates the ability to capture and win new business, as evidenced by multiple successful outcomes where he played a major personal role. His ability to influence decisions towards desired outcomes is proven, with a track record of delivering and implementing innovative solutions that fully support corporate growth objectives.Erdal Gülcüler is a results-driven professional with solid and progressive experience in plant management and the manufacturing industry. He has gained comprehensive knowledge of the Aerospace and Defense, Construction, and White Goods industry markets, as well as the user community, with a proven ability to identify, qualify, and capture new business opportunities within these areas.His management skills and expertise include High-Tech Product Development, Technology Transfer (TOT) of Aerospace/Defense Products, Program & Project Management, Product Management, Business Development, Contract Management, Total Quality Management (TQM), and Company & Plant Management. Additionally, his technical expertise encompasses a wide range of effective business tools, including Research & Development of Platforms for Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Developing and Implementing ERP and MRP Systems, Finding Technical Solutions for Manufacturing Systems & Problems, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Certification, Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, leading 15 R&D projects, establishing factories for various sectors, Engineering Consulting, Product and Equipment Design, and System Engineering.
Zübeyde Çağlayan has built a distinguished career with significant contributions in
industry, technology, and defense. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, holds a
Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Başkent University, Ankara, and
completed Executive Fellows Program at Harvard University Kennedy School in
Massachusetts.
Çağlayan's extensive experience includes managing billion-dollar defense contracts,
ensuring they meet their objectives and localization targets. Her expertise spans
project management, technology roadmapping, strategic planning, university and
industry collabration, team collaboration and management of multidisciplinar teams.
Her previous roles include serving as the Head of R&D and Technology Management
Department at the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries. There, she was
instrumental in shaping the Defence Industry Technology Management Strategy and
overseeing key projects in the strategic areas of Defence Programs such as
electrooptics, RF components, advanced materials and communication.
Çağlayan also served as founding Head of Electronic Warfare Department, managing
crucial defense programs including Helicopter and Fighter Electronic Warfare,
Electronic Support and Electronic Attack Systems.
Çağlayan was Advisor to the Minister of Science and Technology, led pivotal reforms
in technology management that aimed transformation of Technology Management in
Turkey. She served as the General Manager at the Ministry of Science, Industry, and
Technology and her role encompasses overseeing industry policies, managing
product localization programs and ensuring alignment of industry legislation with EU
standards. She handles a broad range of sectors, including automotive, machinery,
chemicals, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
As Acting Deputy Undersecretary at Ministry of Science, Industry, and Technology,
she contributed significantly to the transition of Turkish Industry to high technology
areas, Digital Transformation and Localization of Strategic Products.
Lastly, she has been working as the member of Academia at Presidency of Defense
Industry.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Çağlayan has served on Boards of
Management and Panels including Technopark Istanbul A.Ş ( founding member),
METU Technopark A.S., TÜBİTAK Defence Technologies Research Group,
TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, TUSAŞ, MİKES A.Ş.
Şahizer ÖN ÇAKIR graduated from METU Computer Engineering in 1992 as a high honor student. In the same year, she won the exam opened by Türkiye İş Bankası and started to work as a software development specialist at Türkiye İş Bankası Information Processing Directorate. From 1996 to 1997, she entered the defense industry with TAI. Since 1997, she has been working at HAVELSAN. She worked as a Logistics Module responsible for the HVBS Project, one of Turkey's largest digital transformation projects. She managed the TCDD Enterprise Resource Management System and Eti Maden KKYS and RFID Projects, which are among Turkey's large-scale projects. In 2018 and 2019, she worked as a Project Management Office Manager and Programmes Group Manager. Since 2019, she has been working as a manager in R&D, Technology, and Innovation at the R&D Technology and Innovation Directorate. ÇAKIR, who has a PMP certificate, is married and has three children.
Dr. E. Serdar Gökpınar, is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering then subsequently acquired MBA and PhD in the field of Technology Management. From 1996 to 2011 he served at TUBITAK SAGE as a research engineer, manager of various projects / programs and group coordinator consequtively. From 2012 to 2018, initlally worked as the Technology Manager then as the Director of Fighter Aircrafts in TUSAS-TAI. Gokpinar is still working as an advisor in TTGV, also performs as a scholar, consultant, advisor and instructor in the fields of R&D, Technology, Product and Innovation Management.
