Steve Nordlund, who has been at the helm of Boeing Defense’s fighter jet business for the past two years, is retiring, as reported by Breaking Defense.
Nordlund, officially titled vice president and general manager of Air Dominance, will be succeeded by Dan Gillian, currently serving as vice president of Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers. Gillian’s position will then be filled by Jamie Burgess, who is presently Boeing Defense’s vice president for program management.
A spokesperson for Boeing confirmed these transitions in response to inquiries from Breaking Defense, although they declined to provide additional comments.
Prior to leading the Air Dominance unit, Nordlund spent a year in charge of the company’s Phantom Works division; this experience coincided with Boeing’s efforts to secure the US Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative, which is currently encountering budgetary challenges. In total, Nordlund dedicated 15 years to Boeing, having joined the company following its acquisition of the drone firm Insitu.
His departure comes amid uncertainty at Boeing. New CEO Kelly Ortberg announced plans in October to lay off approximately 10 percent of the workforce as part of an effort to stabilize the aerospace giant, and the defense sector has yet to appoint a full-time leader since Ted Colbert was dismissed in September. Overall, the defense unit reported $3.2 billion in charges this year.
