Special Devices, Inc. Names New Chief Operating Officer, General Manager

31 May 2000
Special Devices, Inc. Names New Chief Operating Officer, General Manager
    MOORPARK, Calif., May 31 Special Devices, Inc. (SDI), a
leading designer and manufacturer of highly reliable, precision-engineered
pyrotechnic devices for the aerospace and automotive industries, has named
John J. Walsh Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  In this
position, Mr. Walsh will have the responsibility of directing the worldwide
automotive and aerospace operations of SDI.
    "In our efforts to become a world class manufacturing organization, SDI
must continue to focus on our safety, quality and productivity efforts,"
stated Thomas W. Cresante, CEO at SDI.  "This organizational change will help
us do that."
    Mr. Walsh has an impressive history of success over his 20-year career.
He has held various executive management positions with major aerospace
manufacturers including Textron Lycoming, Lockheed Corporation, Thiokol
Corporation and The Ensign-Bickford Company.  Most recently, Mr. Walsh held
the position of Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Programs at SDI
where he was responsible for developing the strategic focus of both the
aerospace and automotive divisions.
    "We are pleased to promote John to the newly formed position of Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  During the past five months, John
has been instrumental in the deployment of our six sigma and lean
manufacturing corporate initiatives.  There is no better person to align our
operations with our strategic goals," added Cresante.
    In another organizational move, SDI has appointed Bob Sepulveda to Vice
President/General Manager of the Moorpark Automotive Division.  Mr. Sepulveda
has been working with SDI since February 2000, as a consultant.  In this
position, Mr. Sepulveda will be responsible for the automotive operations at
the Moorpark facility.
    Mr. Sepulveda worked in various executive operations roles for automotive
leaders such as TRW, Morton and Valentec.  Before accepting the position,
Mr. Sepulveda had been working with SDI in a consulting capacity coordinating
operations, on-time delivery and efficiency.
    "In addition to our corporate priorities of safety, quality and
productivity, Bob and I will focus on cost reduction of our Moorpark
automotive operations.  Keeping our costs down, and performing to our
customers expectations in both our automotive and aerospace operations, will
allow us to maintain our dominant position for automotive initiators in the
domestic market and compete more effectively across all product lines
worldwide," added Walsh.
    Both organizational changes are effective immediately.
    Special Devices, Inc. (SDI) is a world leader in the design and
manufacturing of highly reliable, precision-engineered pyrotechnic devices for
the aerospace and automotive industries.  The Company is dedicated to
supplying its customers with products that meet their stringent requirements
while maintaining the highest level of quality, reliability and innovation.
SDI is a privately held corporation whose principle shareholders are
affiliates of J. F. Lehman & Company.  For more information regarding SDI,
contact 805-553-1200.