David C. Adams has been the CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corp. since July 2013. Before that, he held various important positions within the company, including President and Chief Operating Officer. David has a solid educational background, with a Bachelor of Science...

David C. Adams has been the CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corp. since July 2013. Before that, he held various important positions within the company, including President and Chief Operating Officer. David has a solid educational background, with a Bachelor of Science from California State University and an MBA from California Lutheran University. His experience in the engineering and aerospace industries spans over 19 years at Curtiss-Wright and a decade at other notable firms like Goodrich and Lucas Aerospace. He serves on the board of Snap-On Incorporated, which showcases his extensive expertise. Under his leadership, Curtiss-Wright has focused on innovation and improving its long-term performance, aiming to increase shareholder value. However, while his salary for 2023 is set at $1 million, he did not receive bonuses or stock options due to unmet performance metrics. David’s strategic vision continues to steer the company towards growth in diverse sectors, especially aerospace and defense.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Curtiss-Wright CEOs

C

David C. Adams

CEO of Curtiss-Wright

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree from California State University; Masters Degree in Business Administration from California Lutheran University

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Engineering

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

January 1, 1963 - 62 years ago

CEO of Curtiss-Wright for

11 years 8 months (Jul 2013 - Present)

Previous Experience

Co-Chief Operating Officer of Curtiss-Wright Corporation; President of Motion Control; various senior business development roles at Goodrich and Lucas Aerospace

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of David C. Adams

E

Anthony J. Guzzi

CEO of EMCOR Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.70M

Salary

$1.24M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$159.27K

Total Holdings

$98.76M

B

Rex D. Geveden

CEO of BWX Technologies

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$925.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$216.52K

Total Holdings

$28.66M

H

John C. Plant

CEO of Howmet Aerospace

2020 Compensation

Stock

$37.35M

Salary

$1.60M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$140.00K

Total Holdings

$480.78M

I

Nicholas Fanandakis

CEO of ITT

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.09M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$158.98K

Total Holdings

$1.45M

G

Phebe N. Novakovic

CEO of General Dynamics

2023 Compensation

Stock

$14.04M

Salary

$1.70M

Bonus

$4.29M

Other

$699.78K

Total Holdings

$220.84M

Holdings

See how much did David C. Adams make over time.

David Adams has shown a keen interest in Curtiss-Wright’s stock, having participated actively in insider trading from 2019 to 2023. His holdings started high in September 2019 with over $8 million and fluctuated significantly over the years. The peak came...

David Adams has shown a keen interest in Curtiss-Wright’s stock, having participated actively in insider trading from 2019 to 2023. His holdings started high in September 2019 with over $8 million and fluctuated significantly over the years. The peak came in 2023 when his holdings soared to around $11 million in August, reflecting a steady upward trend. This indicates a strong investment confidence in the company, particularly as the stock's performance has become a notable part of his financial portfolio. Over this period, fluctuations have occurred, but overall, David's wealth tied to Curtiss-Wright shares saw impressive growth, showcasing his commitment to the company’s direction.

Mar 17, 2025

C

shares

CW @ $328.89

S

shares

SNA @ $329.24

Total Stock Sold

$45.62M

CW

$45.62M

484,703 CW shares

What if they kept their stock?

If David C. Adams didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra CW484,703 shares worth $47.21M.
This is 3.5% and $1.60M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

CW

6,645 shares

CW

SNA

5,854 shares

SNA

Recent Charitable Transactions

SNA

5,854 shares

SNA

Aug 31, 2023

Charity

CW

$1.00M

CW at $154.18/share

Mar 3, 2022

Charity

CW

$9.89K

CW at $133.68/share

Dec 10, 2021

Charity

CW

$10.17K

CW at $143.21/share

Dec 12, 2019

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of David C. Adams.

SNA

599 shares

SNA

Feb 15, 2024

Received

SNA

5,854 shares

SNA

Aug 31, 2023

Charity

SNA

5,854 shares

SNA

Aug 31, 2023

Charity

CW

$885.40K

CW at $190.00/share

Jul 20, 2023

Sale

CW

$18.86K

CW at $176.26/share

Apr 3, 2023

Received

CW

$135.00K

CW at $171.54/share

Feb 15, 2023

Received

CW

$135.00K

CW at $171.54/share

Feb 15, 2023

Received

SNA

640 shares

SNA

Feb 9, 2023

Received

CW

$18.87K

CW at $166.99/share

Jan 4, 2023

Received

CW

$18.79K

CW at $139.16/share

Oct 3, 2022

Received

Compensation History

See how much did David C. Adams make over time.

In 2023, David C. Adams earned a total compensation of $1 million, which solely comprised his base salary. There were no bonuses, stock options, or other compensations granted as the company did not meet the performance metrics set for the year. This lack of additional compensation shows the company's focus on aligning pay directly with performance outcomes. His previous years saw more variable pay; for example, in 2022, he received over $657,000, including a significant amount from vested stocks from previous years. The 2023 package indicates a more conservative compensation strategy based on performance alignment.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$1.00M

Salary

$1.00M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is to align executive pay with company performance and shareholder interests, targeting market median compensation with significant performance-based components.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for 2023 as the performance metrics were not met.

Other

$0.00

Board Justification

No other compensation was reported for 2023.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock vested in 2023.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for 2023 included adjusted operating income, organic sales growth, and working capital as a percentage of sales.

Other Curtiss-Wright CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Curtiss-Wright

Lynn M. Bamford

CEO of Curtiss-Wright

January 2021 - Present