CEO DAVE CALHOUN IS STEPPING DOWN, WHAT’S NEXT FOR BOEING?


By bblouin
Dave Calhoun speaking to press.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun won’t be around much longer. Pressure from the airline industry and some of the public following a door flying off of an aircraft may be prompting the change. This is not limited to the CEO. Ever since the latest Boeing 737 Max jetliner incident, Dave Calhoun has been under scrutiny along with the company as a whole. Now, it appears Calhoun will leave the company at the end of 2024. This is casting questions about who will lead the aerospace and defense industry giant. Suggested read: Women Military Draft – Would the Selective Service Include Females?

How Long Has Dave Calhoun Been CEO of Boeing?

In January 2020, David Calhoun assumed the CEO position at Boeing, succeeding Dennis Muilenburg, who was dismissed following two fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 aircraft. Seeing as Calhoun is leaving the company at the end of 2024, his reign over the company will come just short of four years. However, Calhoun previously served as a director at Boeing since 2009. He was appointed lead independent director in 2018. In late 2019, Boeing separated the roles of Chairman and CEO to allow Muilenburg to focus on safety improvements, appointing Dave Calhoun as non-executive Chairman at that time. His leadership during this time is undeniable. He became a part of an attempt to "right the ship" amid controversy stemming from deadly crashes. Unfortunately, his time will end with Boeing under the microscope due to multiple issues and negative press surrounding the company's manufacturing practices.

Who Is the CEO of Boeing Now?

Boeing is undergoing a significant leadership overhaul, with CEO David Calhoun announcing his plan to retire by year-end amidst ongoing safety challenges. But, he isn't the only shake-up at the company. Stan Deal, head of the commercial airplanes unit, has departed, being replaced by Stephanie Pope. Board Chairman Lawrence Kellner will not seek reelection in May, with his successor, former Qualcomm CEO, Steve M. Mollenkopf appointed to lead the search for Calhoun's replacement as the next Boeing CEO. Related read: Recognizing the Month of the Military Child

Dave Calhoun's Legacy at Boeing Marred by Controversy

The Dave Calhoun-Boeing CEO relationship began following a dark time for the company. Two crashes involving Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019 sadly left nearly 350 people dead. However, the problems didn’t stop there. Many safety issues over the years have led to groundings, $31 billion in total losses, and led to investigations ending with failing grades from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Airline CEOs met with Boeing’s board following the bolt failure incident in Alaska in 2024; however, Calhoun was not a part of these discussions. Building back trust is going to have to be a primary focus for whoever takes the reins following the departure of Dave Calhoun. But the ramifications of these ongoing incidents aren’t just affecting the civilian world. The future of Boeing is also going to have major implications for the future of national defense in the United States.

Dave Calhoun Change to Affect Boeing Military Aircraft Division

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) is the division focusing on defense and aerospace products and services for the military. Although BDS has been helping the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) since 2022, the company has a much longer, storied history of helping with national defense. Before recognizing under its current BDS structure, the division was Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) in 1939. Today, Boeing is one of the world's largest defense contractors. It operates to create classified aircraft, surveillance components, intelligence and weapons systems, spacecraft, satellites, missiles, and much, much more. From a commercial standpoint, public safety and the future of air travel will be greatly impacted by leadership at Boeing no matter who it is. The company is also the leading commercial aircraft manufacturer in the world. Nevertheless, Dave Calhoun leaving is also a matter of national defense. Concerns in manufacturing are serious no matter the use of the aircraft. Thus, improvements are necessary for smoother operations in the future. Read next: Can You Sue the Military?

Image Source: AP photo/ J. Scott Applewhite


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