Tuesday morning the Blue Devils made a move for the future, naming a new chief executive officer for BD Performing Arts, the Concord, California-based nonprofit entity which includes seven performance ensembles including the Blue Devils and Blue Devils B and C drum corps.

Beginning February 29, Justin Heimbecker will assume the role of CEO of BD Performing Arts.

As part of the transition, longtime organization leader David Gibbs will become senior executive advisor to BD Performing Arts, overseeing and mentoring Heimbecker while shifting his focus to growing the organization’s System Blue brand as president and board chair.

"Justin comes to us with a deep history of entrepreneurial experience in the performing arts, and it is our belief that he is exactly the right person to lead our organization into the future," Gibbs said.

Heimbecker previously served a number of years in varied positions under the umbrella of Youth Education in the Arts, the parent organization of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is a former performing corps member of the Cadets and the Jersey Surf.

With 24-years of experience under his own belt, Gibbs says that for the near future the addition of Heimbecker to the organization’s leadership team will not mean any changes to the management of the 17-time World Champion Blue Devils.

“I will be handing off responsibilities to Justin gradually. The first things will be more operational then programmatic,” Gibbs said. “I will continue to be the main contact and lead for the (Blue Devils A corps). Pat Seidling will still be the main manager on the road. Over the next few years the transition into programs will happen.”