EADS N.V. - Former U.S. Army Acting Secretary Les Brownlee is elected to EADS North America Board of Directors

Les Brownlee, former Acting Secretary of the Army, has been elected to EADS North America’s Board of Directors – bringing more than 42 years of extensive military and government experience. Brownlee joins 13 other members of the company’s board, who share a broad range of corporate, industry, military and government affairs experience. The board is led by EADS North America Chairman and CEO Ralph D. Crosby, Jr.

“Les Brownlee has made significant contributions to this country’s national security during his long and distinguished career as a combat leader, in the Senate as Staff Director of the Armed Services Committee, and while guiding the Army during a particularly challenging period as Acting Secretary,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Chairman and CEO. “We are very pleased to welcome Les to the EADS North America Board, and look forward to his insight and guidance as the company continues to expand operations in the United States.”

Brownlee retired from government service in December 2004, having served since November 2001 as the 27th Under Secretary of the Army. From May 2003 to November 2004, he served concurrently as the Acting Secretary of the Army for an unprecedented period of eighteen months.

Brownlee previously served as the National Security Legislative Assistant on the staff of Senator John Warner from January 1984 through 1986, joining the staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee in January 1987 where he was the Principal Professional Staff Member responsible for Army and Marine Corps programs, special operations forces and drug interdiction policy and support from 1987 to 1996. In addition, as Deputy Staff Director, he was deeply involved in policies and programs relating to ballistic missile defense, strategic deterrence and naval strategy, shipbuilding and weapons programs.

In March 1996, Brownlee was named Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Armed Services by then Chairman Strom Thurmond(R/SC). In January 1999, he was selected to continue as Staff Director for the Committee’s current Chairman John Warner(R/VA), where he served until November 2001 when he became the Under Secretary of the Army.

Brownlee is a retired Army Colonel. He is a distinguished honor graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger Course, an honor graduate of both the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and the Command and General Staff College, and a graduate of the Army's airborne course as well as the U.S. Army War College. Brownlee served two tours in Vietnam, and his military decorations include the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart.

He holds a masters degree in business administration from the University of Alabama.

About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)

EADS North America is the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $6 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 100,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. With 11 operating companies located in 31 cities and 16 states, EADS offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

EADS North America Subsidiaries: EADS North America Defense Company, Arlington, VA; ARC Information Assurance Institute, San Antonio, TX; American Eurocopter LLC, Grand Prairie, TX; EADS Aeroframe Services, LLC, Lake Charles, LA; EADS CASA North America, Chantilly, VA; Socata Aircraft, Inc., Pembroke Pines, FL; EADS Sogerma Barfield, Inc., Miami, FL; Fairchild Controls Corporation, Frederick, MD; Racal Instruments, Irvine, CA; EADS Supply & Services, Rockville, MD, and TYX, Reston, VA.

About EADS (www.eads.com)

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2003 EADS, generated revenues of € 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 100,000. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the second largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.