LAS VEGAS, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Pacific Corporation , a leading manufacturer in the specialty chemical industry, announced today that it promoted Dr. Kent Richman to the position of Vice President, Research and Product Development.
With extensive experience in the field of chemistry, Dr. Richman previously held the position of Director, Analytical Laboratories and Product Development with American Pacific Corporation and has been with the company since 1996. Prior to that, Dr. Richman was the Senior Scientist at Tracor, Inc. He obtained his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Utah State University in 1989.
"Dr. Richman has been an integral part of our research team for over nine years and has helped the company in its efforts to become a significant force in the specialty chemical market. He brings a tremendous amount of hands on experience and ingenuity to this position, and we are excited to have him in this role," said John Gibson, President of American Pacific Corporation.
Dr. Richman will direct all of the Research and Product Development for the Company, overseeing such activities at Ampac Fine Chemicals LLC in Rancho Cordova, California; Ampac-ISP in Niagara Falls, New York; American Pacific's Utah Operations in Cedar City, Utah; and Ampac ISP in Westcott, United Kingdom. He will also manage American Pacific Corporation's research at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia and will be responsible for all of the Company's quality assurance programs.
American Pacific is a specialty chemical company that produces (i) energetic products used primarily in space flight and defense systems, automotive airbag safety systems and explosives, (ii) Halotron, a clean fire extinguishing agent and (iii) water treatment equipment. In November 2005, American Pacific acquired the former Aerojet Fine Chemicals business. Ampac Fine Chemicals, as it is now known, is a leading manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients and registered intermediates under cGMP guidelines for commercial customers in the pharmaceutical industry, involving high potency compounds, energetic and nucleoside chemistries, and chiral separation. In 2004 American Pacific acquired the former Atlantic Research Corporation liquid in-space propulsion business. Ampac-ISP, as it is now known, is a leading supplier of commercial and military propulsion products and the world's largest producer of bipropellant thrusters. Additional information about American Pacific can be obtained by visiting the Company's web site at http://www.apfc.com/.
