Boeing on Friday replaced the head of its troubled defense and space division, which has struggled with loss-making government contracts and embarrassing setbacks over its space capsule. Starliner.
The company said Theodore “Ted” Colbert III was immediately removed as president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security and replaced temporarily by the division’s chief operating officer, Steve Parker. A search is underway for a permanent replacement.
Mr. Colbert spent 15 years at Boeing as chief information officer and head of the global services business before leading the defense unit.
Kelly Ortberg, who took over as Boeing’s CEO last month, said in a memo announcing Mr. Colbert’s departure: “At this critical juncture, our priority is to restore the trust of our customers and meet the high standards they expect of us to help them accomplish their critical missions around the world. By working together, we can and will improve our performance and ensure we deliver on our commitments.”
Boeing is trying to exit unprofitable contracts with the Pentagon and NASA, including new Air Force One presidential jets and tankers for the Air Force.
Since the start of 2022, the defense and space division has lost US$6 billion, slightly more than Boeing’s aerospace business.
The capsule Starliner that Boeing built for NASA experienced thruster problems during its first manned mission to the International Space Station.
NASA decided this month that it was too risky for two astronauts to return home in the capsule, so they will stay in space until February and return to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule.
