Retired Gen. John Jumper, former Chief of Staff, will become chief executive officer of SAIC, a large defense contractor headquartered in McLean, Va. The company’s board of directors voted Jumper to succeed current CEO Walter Havenstein, effective on March 1. “I am honored to have been selected to lead SAIC and am keen to face the challenges ahead in our industry,” said Jumper, who in his new position, will remain a member of SAIC’s board of directors. He continued, “Also, I am grateful to be given the opportunity to build upon the successes we’ve achieved under Walt Havenstein’s leadership. He’s positioned the company to take advantage of our strengths. I look forward to leading SAIC as we continue to provide solutions vital to our nation.” Jumper was Chief of Staff from September 2001 to September 2005. He retired from the Air Force in November 2005, after 39 years of uniformed service. He joined SAIC’s board in June 2007. (SAIC release)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.