Boeing defense chief to step down from role

• Published On: 22 September 2024 at 16:40

Ted Colbert, the head of Boeing's defense unit, will leave the company effective immediately, according to CEO Kelly Ortberg.

Ortberg disclosed this in a staff memo on Friday, according to CNBC.

According to CNBC, this is Ortberg's first significant executive change since taking on the role in early August.

"At this critical juncture, our top priority is to regain our customers' trust and meet the high standards they expect from us in order to support their critical missions around the world.

"Working together we can and will improve our performance and ensure we deliver on our commitments," Ortberg explained.

He thanked Colbert for his 15 years of service at Boeing and announced that Chief Operating Officer Steve Parker would serve as interim leader until a replacement for Colbert is found.

Boeing's defense, space, and security unit generated nearly 40% of the company's revenue in the first half of the year.

However, it has encountered difficulties, including production issues and cost overruns, particularly with the new 747s designated as Air Force One aircraft.

In the space sector, Boeing's Starliner will return without the NASA astronauts who visited the International Space Station in June. Instead, they will return aboard SpaceX's Crew-9 vehicle, as NASA confirmed last month.

CNBC reports that Colbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment.