ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Boeing Co on Friday replaced the head of its defense and space business, which has been plagued by loss-making government contracts and embarrassing setbacks over its Starliner space capsule.
Theodore “Ted” Colbert III has been removed from his role as president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, effective immediately, and will be replaced on an interim basis by Steve Parker, the division's chief operating officer, while the company says it is currently searching for a permanent replacement.
Colbert spent 15 years at Boeing, where he led the company's global services business as chief information officer and later led the defense division.
“At this critical moment, our top priority is to restore our customers' trust and meet the high standards they expect from us to perform their vital missions around the world. Working together, we can and will improve our performance and ensure we deliver on our promises,” Kelly Ortberg, who became Boeing CEO last month, said in a memo announcing Colbert's departure.
Boeing is trying to move away from unprofitable contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA, including for the new presidential aircraft, Air Force One, and Air Force refueling planes.
Since the start of 2022, the defense and space division has lost $6 billion, slightly more than the loss caused by Boeing's aircraft business.
The Boeing-built Starliner spacecraft for NASA had thruster problems on its first manned mission to the International Space Station, and NASA decided this month that it was too risky for the two astronauts to return aboard the craft, so they will remain in space until February and then return to Earth on a SpaceX craft.
