Boeing announced immediate changes that they’re rolling out. Boeing is reorganizing their Defense, Space & Security business unit, moving from eight divisions to four. It’s an effort aimed at accelerating operational discipline, program quality, safety, and performance. These moves also bring about executive leadership changes. A Boeing spokesperson said that they expect “minimal” job cuts beyond the high level adjustments.
Future of Boeing Aerospace and Divisions
“I am confident this reorganization will drive greater and more simplified integration and collaboration across Boeing Defense, Space & Security,” BDS CEO Ted Colbert said in a Thursday statement. “These changes will help accelerate operational discipline and program quality and performance, while stabilizing our development and production programs. These are necessary steps to put BDS on the path to stronger, profitable growth.”
Colbert became the BDS CEO in March 2022, moving from Boeing’s Global Services division. Colbert has pushed for a business culture change at Boeing to be more focused on the technologies that power the equipment inside the places, tanks, and helicopters.
“The future will be about doing autonomy at scale,” he said at a September luncheon. “The future manned-and-unmanned teaming will be tremendously important to our warfighters domestically and around the world. We are in the process of approving all that technology out.”
Boeing has shared that the BDS division will have four divisions – instead of eight.
Vertical Lift
This division is led by Vice President and General Manager Mark Cherry.
Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers
This division is led by Vice President and General Manager Dan Gillian. The division will include KC-46, SAOC, E-7, VC-25B, P-8, Bombers, AWACS/AEW&C, 777X components and all executive transport programs.
Air Dominance
Air Dominance is led by Vice President and General Manager Steve Nordlund. It will include classified programs; the F/A-18, F-15, T-7, MQ-25 and MQ-28 programs; and the non-space Phantom Works portfolio, including the Virtual Warfare Centers. Nordlund will also become the senior site executive for the St. Louis region.
Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems
Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems is led by Vice President and General Manager Kay Sears. It will include space exploration and launch programs, satellites, munitions, missiles, weapon system deterrents, maritime undersea, Phantom Works Space and subsidiaries (BI&A, Millennium, Insitu, Liquid Robotics, Spectrolab, Argon and DRT).
Other Changes in the Reorg
Between now and Feb. 4, 2023, Jim Chilton, senior vice president for Space and Launch, will continue to manage space exploration and launch programs, satellites and Phantom Works Space. On Feb. 5, 2023, Chilton will become a senior advisor to Ted Colbert, president and chief executive officer of BDS, focusing on future space ventures.
Additionally, Tim Peters, currently vice president and general manager of Mobility and Surveillance, and Cindy Gruensfelder, currently vice president and general manager of Missile and Weapon Systems, will be retiring after assisting with the transitions.
Coinciding with these changes, Boeing Global Services (BGS) will integrate all government services – domestic and international – into one organization, led by Torbjorn (Turbo) Sjogren, vice president and general manager of BGS Government Services.
