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OEA Appoints New Board Members

18 November 1998

OEA Appoints New Board Members Richard L. Corbin and Donald E. Miller

    DENVER, Nov. 18 -- OEA, Inc. today announced the
addition of Richard L. Corbin and Donald E. Miller to its Board of Directors.
    Mr. Corbin was named executive vice president and chief financial officer
of Cordant Technologies, Inc. (formerly Thiokol Corporation) in 1998 after
joining the company as senior vice president and CFO in 1994.  He is
responsible for Cordant's financial organization, including the departments of
the controller, treasurer, business development and acquisitions, investor
relations, and internal audit.  Prior to joining Cordant, he was chief
financial officer and vice president of administration for the Space Systems
division of General Dynamics Corporation and also held financial positions
with LTV and Honeywell.  Cordant Technologies is a leading aerospace company
whose sales have grown from $1 billion in 1994 to $2.4 billion today.
    Mr. Miller spent the majority of his 45-year career with The Gates
Corporation, retiring in 1996 as vice chairman.  After joining Gates in 1961
as an automotive products sales and marketing specialist, he held senior
management positions prior to being named president of Gates Rubber Company in
1982 and chief operating officer and president of The Gates Corporation in
1986 and 1987, respectively.  As president and COO he was responsible for all
domestic and international operations (manufacturing, sales, marketing, R&D,
acquisitions, strategic planning) and directed a tripling of sales.  Miller
currently serves on the Board of Directors of Sentry Insurance, Lennox
Industries, Inc. and Chateau Communities, and is the President of the Board of
the Colorado School of Mines Foundation.
    "We welcome the addition of Mr. Corbin and Mr. Miller to OEA's board,"
said Robert J. Schultz, OEA's chairman.  "They have enjoyed highly successful
careers in related industries and bring to OEA a wealth of experience for both
our automotive and aerospace businesses."
    OEA is the technology leader and a major manufacturer in the air bag
inflator and initiator industry.  The Company is also a leader in the design
and manufacture of personnel escape systems for military aircraft and
high-reliability devices for missile and aerospace applications.