Boeing announced it is shifting the roles of executive officers in its Defense, Space, and Security (BDS) unit as part of a broader effort to cut 30 percent of the executive positions compared to 2010 levels by the end of the year. Among the changes taking effective on Jan. 1, Nan Bouchard will be vice president/general manager of the C-17 program; Leanne Caret will be VP/GM of a consolidated vertical lift division; Jean Chamberlin will be VP/GM of BDS program management; Shelley Lavender will be VP/GM for integrated logistics; Ralph Meoni will be VP/GM of a new electronic and information solutions division; Tim Peters will be VP/GM of a new consolidated mobility, surveillance, and engagement division; and Debbie Rub will be VP/GM of the global strike division, according to a Nov. 7 company release. Trimming the executive ranks falls under BDS’ drive since 2010 to reduce overhead—for example, a more-than-10-percent reduction in facilities space—and increase affordability, while still ushering in productivity improvements and bolstering its competitiveness. Already, the company says it has achieved $2.2 billion in savings.
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.