Garrett E. Mikita has been selected by the Proterra board of directors as the new president/CEO of Proterra Inc.,  provider of zero-emission commercial transit solutions and the maker of the world's first all-electric fast-charge transit bus. Mikita takes over from David Bennett.

“We thank David Bennett for his excellent service with Proterra and wish him well,” said Chairman of the Board Dave Lehmann.

Fellow board member, Michael Linse added: “David’s successful tenure has paved the road for Garrett who is the right person to lead Proterra into its next phase. We are excited to have hired such a talented leader as part of our team.”

Mikita has spent 25 years in senior leadership roles in Fortune 50 companies and brings with him a wealth of experience and innovative approaches. He recently served as the president of the Defense & Space strategic business unit of Honeywell Aerospace, where he led the $5.3 billion organization. As president of the unit, Mikita was responsible for a wide range of engineering services, advanced technology products and logistical services to the U. S. Department of Defense, NASA and international ministries of defense.

"I am committed to ensuring that Proterra remains the best electric bus company in the world in the eyes of our customers, employees, and investors," said Mikita. "This is an incredible opportunity to work with our team to leave a lasting legacy for the environment and the American taxpayer."

Mikita also served as president of Air Transport & Regional, a $4.7 billion business unit of Honeywell Aerospace, where he achieved significant revenue growth through improved performance for global customers and led key campaign wins with aircraft manufacturers, airlines and cargo companies. As a senior operations executive at Honeywell, Mikita managed over 40 manufacturing plants and led a workforce of 15,000 employees.

Mikita also served as director of manufacturing for the interiors division of United Technologies-Automotive. During his 10 years with United Technologies, he held a series of progressively responsible positions including engineering, purchasing, and operations. Mikita has a long record of innovative leadership, successful sales campaigns and customer service. He is committed to the Proterra mission of building a world-leading electric bus fleet and transit system.

"I'm proud that our buses are made in America. The U.S. workforce is the most productive in the world," said Mikita. "I am thankful that our investors are committed to a growing market for zero-emission technology and clean domestic fuels."

Mikita has an MBA from the University of New Haven and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Central Connecticut State University. He has also completed executive education programs at the Harvard Business School and the Thunderbird School of International Management. He is also a graduate of the Honeywell Executive Development Program.

Mikita began his new position on Monday, May 13.