LAUNCH
Chicago, US · Founded 2011 · 523 employees on LinkedIn · 3 known investors
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LAUNCH provides aircraft modification and maintenance services through specialized teams covering avionics, structures, and interiors. The company operates as a FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada-authorized Part 145 repair station serving commercial aircraft operators for routine, non-routine, and emergency repairs.
Also known as LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions · LAUNCH TWS
Founders & leadership
LAUNCH was founded in 2011 by Mike Guagenti, Jean Rollo, and Ian Rollo.
Investors · 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026LAUNCH, operating as LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions, supplies contract and direct-hire technical labor and aviation maintenance services to airlines, maintenance-repair-overhaul (MRO) providers and original equipment manufacturers. Its aviation staffing practice places A&P mechanics, structural and interior mechanics, avionics technicians, painters, junior mechanics and inspectors with MROs and airlines, and supplies CNC machinists, composite technicians, fabricators, machine operators, engineers, inspectors and repair technicians to OEM and aircraft manufacturing customers. A professional-staffing line covers engineers, managers and supervisors.
Beyond labor supply, the company performs work itself: LAUNCH TEAMS are mobile repair crews that pair supervisory leadership with technicians for project-based maintenance and modification programs, and LAUNCH operates a Modification & Training Center under its own FAA Part 145 Repair Station certificate, supporting aircraft modifications, airworthiness directives, reliability checks and Wi-Fi installations. Additional business lines and programs marketed on the company site include ground transportation and professional staffing, LAUNCH Defense for aerospace and defense workforce solutions, supplier solutions, the Aviation Search Group, LAUNCH Academy, a Global Access visa program for candidates located outside the United States, a Spanish-language recruiting channel (LAUNCH Trabajos), and Working Heroes and veteran-hiring initiatives.
The company is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, and is associated with private equity firm Capitol Meridian Partners, which is referenced alongside LAUNCH and its JMC Aviation subsidiary in company announcements.
Business model
LAUNCH bills client employers — airlines, MROs, OEMs, and manufacturing and ground transportation companies — for placing technical contractors and direct hires, and also delivers project-based aviation maintenance and modification work through its own mobile TEAMS and Part 145 repair station operations.
Traction
The company's job board advertised 189 open positions at the time of review, and the company states it works with 60+ recruiters and access to more than 500,000 qualified candidates across 400+ client and team locations.
Latest developments
In 2026 LAUNCH acquired JMC Aviation, a UK-based provider of aviation engineering, recruitment and training services, and in July 2026 announced a set of leadership changes to support international expansion: Mick Adams, former CEO of STS Aviation Services Europe, was named European Strategic Advisor; Hollie Prendergast continued as Managing Director of JMC Aviation; Group President and Chief Commercial Officer Mike Reporto added the Chief Revenue Officer role; and Chief Digital and Transformation Officer Atul Kumar took executive oversight of fulfillment and delivery operations. Earlier in 2026 the company appointed Archie Vega as Vice President MRO Services (May 2026) and a Manager of Technical Training (June 2026).
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
LAUNCH positions itself as the largest workforce solution provider for the aviation industry and a leading provider of aircraft maintenance, modification and technical workforce solutions, supporting teams and clients in more than 400 locations worldwide.
LAUNCH combines contract staffing with self-performed maintenance capability: mobile repair TEAMS led by experienced supervisors and an in-house Part 145 Modification & Training Center, alongside compliance and safety programs, a technician training academy and an international visa program.
Technology
The company describes customer-driven and technologically advanced systems supporting its staffing operations, with digital transformation, operational modernization and process optimization initiatives led by a Chief Digital and Transformation Officer.
Go-to-market
Direct sales and recruiting: more than 60 industry-specific recruiters source from a database of over 500,000 qualified candidates, supported by a public job board, recruiter contact channels, a sales phone line, veteran and student pipelines (including AIM students) and a contractor loyalty club.
Airlines, MRO providers, aerospace and defense OEMs and aircraft manufacturers, plus manufacturing and ground transportation employers; on the supply side, licensed and unlicensed aviation technicians, skilled tradespeople, veterans and international candidates seeking U.S. work visas.
Geography
United States-focused staffing with openings advertised in Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, Arizona, Missouri and Illinois; headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, with worldwide support across 400+ locations and, following the JMC Aviation acquisition, an expanded European and international footprint.
History
LAUNCH has grown from U.S. aviation technical staffing into a multi-division workforce and services organization spanning aviation, ground transportation, professional staffing and defense, adding a Part 145 repair station and training center. In 2026 it acquired JMC Aviation, extending operations into Europe, and expanded its executive team to manage a unified international platform. Jeff Martin serves as Executive Chairman and CEO.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsLAUNCH appointed Mick Adams, former CEO of STS Aviation Services Europe, as European Strategic Advisor; named Group President and Chief Commercial Officer Mike Reporto as Chief Revenue Officer; and gave Chief Digital and Transformation Officer Atul Kumar executive oversight of fulfillment and delivery operations.
LAUNCH announced the appointment of a Manager of Technical Training to support workforce development and technical excellence.
LAUNCH acquired JMC Aviation, a provider of engineering, recruitment and training services to commercial aviation, aerospace, business and general aviation and rotary markets, expanding LAUNCH's international footprint. Hollie Prendergast continues as Managing Director of JMC Aviation.
The company promotes LAUNCH Defense as a new offering providing aerospace and defense workforce solutions.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- LAUNCHlaunchtws.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does LAUNCH do?
- LAUNCH provides technical workforce staffing and Part 145 maintenance services to airlines, MROs and aerospace OEMs.
- Who founded LAUNCH?
- LAUNCH was founded by Mike Guagenti, Jean Rollo, Ian Rollo in 2011.
- Who are LAUNCH's investors?
- LAUNCH's investors include Capitol Meridian Partners, The Argentum Group, WP Global Partners.
- Where is LAUNCH headquartered?
- LAUNCH is headquartered in Chicago, US.