Business Will Become Part Of Phantom Works Division

Boeing said on Thursday that it is scaling back its investment in its air traffic management business and named Kevin Brown as the new head, beginning April 1. Brown succeeds John Hayhurst, who is retiring. Boeing also said the business will become part of Phantom Works, Boeing's research and development unit. Brown, whose new title will be vice president, air traffic management, will report to Robert Krieger, president of Phantom Works.

"Boeing will continue to pursue advances in air traffic management that will enhance efficiency, capacity and security," said Boeing President and Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher. "However, in an effort to be more efficient, we are scaling down our investment and making an organizational change to meet current demand. “Our experience as a large-scale systems integrator and expertise in network-centric operations positions Boeing well to create an advanced air traffic system,” Stonecipher added.

Brown said that ATM will continue to engage industry and government aviation officials in the United States, Europe and Asia on air traffic modernization issues, and work with them to build support for transforming air traffic management globally. “ATM research and development activities also will continue,” he said, “and we will perform seamlessly on current contracts as well as pursue new business that supports our strategic objective of system transformation,” Brown emphasized. “The main difference will be that ATM will be part of the company’s world-renowned Phantom Works organization,” he said.

Since joining Boeing in 1978, Brown has worked on numerous military, space and commercial airplane programs, including B-52 programs, the 777, International Space Station, Joint Strike Fighter, and the Next Generation 737 where he was program manager. He joined ATM shortly after its inception and was ATM’s business director, then vice president of programs before advancing to his most recent position.

FMI: www.boeing.com