About Us

Management

Portrait of Andrew Ivers

Andrew C. Ivers
President and Chief Executive Officer, CPI International, Inc.

Andrew C. Ivers has been President and Chief Executive Officer since June 2023. He joined CPI in November 2019 as Chief Operating Officer, and was appointed President in December 2020. Previously, he had been the Principal Consultant of Andrew Ivers & Associates, LLC since September 2018. Mr. Ivers held several senior leadership positions at L3 Technologies, Inc. between 2001 and 2018, most recently serving as Senior Vice President and President of the Communications Systems Segment. Mr. Ivers’ earlier positions at L3 Technologies included President of the Broadband Communications Sector and its Communication Systems-West division between 2014 and 2018 and Executive Vice President of the Microwave Group between 2010 and 2014. Before joining L3 Technologies, Mr. Ivers held prior management and engineering positions at the Harris Corporation and Raytheon. Mr. Ivers holds B.S. degrees in both electrical engineering and mathematics from the University of California, Irvine, and an M.B.A. from the University of Rochester.


Portrait of Laura Kowalchik

Laura M. Kowalchik
Chief Financial Officer, CPI International, Inc.

Laura Kowalchik joined CPI in February 2023 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Kowalchik had been the chief financial officer of Dayco Products, LLC from November 2019 until February 2023. She previously held senior financial management positions at Kenwal Steel Corp., Urban Science, Kaydon Corporation and other automotive supplier organizations. Ms. Kowalchik holds a B.S. degree in business administration, accounting from the University of Richmond and an M.B.A. in finance from Indiana University.


Portrait of Bob Fickett

Robert A. Fickett
Executive Chairman, CPI International, Inc.

Robert A. Fickett has been Executive Chairman since June 2023, after serving as Chief Executive Officer from May 2017 until June 2023. He had previously been President and Chief Operating Officer since March 2002. Prior to this, Mr. Fickett was a Co-Chief Operating Officer since October 2000 and Vice President since April 1998. Mr. Fickett has also been the Division President of the Microwave Power Products Division since April 1998. From January 1996 to April 1998, Mr. Fickett was Vice President of Operations for the Microwave Power Products Division. From 1993 until January 1996, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Altair Technologies, Inc., a contract manufacturer. From 1982 until 1993, Mr. Fickett held a number of positions with Varian Associates, Inc., including Engineering Manager of the Microwave Power Products Division's Klystron Engineering Group, to which he was promoted in 1989. Mr. Fickett received a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.


Portrait of Joe Caldarelli

O. Joe Caldarelli
Vice Chairman, CPI International, Inc.

O. Joe Caldarelli became Vice Chairman in May 2017. Previously, Mr. Caldarelli served as Chief Executive Officer and a director since March 2002. Prior to this, Mr. Caldarelli was a Co-Chief Operating Officer since October 2000 and Vice President since August 1995. Mr. Caldarelli also served as the Division President of the Communications & Medical Products Division until March 2017. Mr. Caldarelli was Vice President and General Manager for the Communications & Medical Products Division under the Electron Device Business of Varian Associates, Inc., from 1985 until August 1995 and was President and a director of Varian Canada, Inc. from 1992 until August 1995. From 1982 until 1985, Mr. Caldarelli was Marketing Manager of the Communications & Medical Products Division of Varian Associates, Inc. and served as its Equipment Operations Manager from 1979 until 1982. Prior to joining Varian Associates, Inc., Mr. Caldarelli served as Manufacturing Engineering Manager for Medtronic Canada, Inc. Mr. Caldarelli holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto.