Federal Contractors | Technology 2023: DAVID CALHOUN

Boeing encountered some issues this spring in producing its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner planes, due to manufacturing problems, which has contributed to an industrywide shortage of new jets. In a May Bloomberg interview, Calhoun, who heads the world’s fifth largest defense contractor, said that supply chain disruptions to the aerospace industry could continue “for a very long time,” possibly longer than five years.

A Virginia Tech alum, Calhoun was hired as president and CEO of Boeing in 2020, after serving on its board. He previously held C-suite positions at Blackstone, Nielsen Holdings and General Electric.

In May, Boeing notched a major win, announcing a $40 billion deal to provide Boeing 737 MAX-10 aircraft to Irish carrier Ryanair. But during his short tenure, Calhoun has also dealt with challenges such as the aftermath of two deadly 737 Max crashes that led to the Federal Aviation Administration grounding the aircraft for nearly two years. Boeing paid $2.5 billion in criminal fines in 2021 after settling with the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 2022, Boeing moved its headquarters to Arlington from Chicago. Boeing has about 400 people employed in the county, with 140,000 employees worldwide.