Boeing

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has named Charles (Chuck) Allen the vice president of business operations in Huntsville, Ala., effective immediately. As the senior Boeing customer-facing executive, Allen will provide strategic guidance to Boeing businesses relative to local customer requirements and will oversee the business activities for missile defense, space, combat systems and satellite programs. He also will manage the day-to-day operations of the Boeing Huntsville site, which employs about 2,700 people.

Allen most recently served as the vice president and program manager for Space Exploration Systems, a division of Integrated Defense Systems' Network and Space Systems business. Allen reports to Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager, Missile Defense Systems.

"Chuck is a dynamite leader," Shanahan said. "He has business acumen and a great personal touch and will be a solid representative for us in the community and with our customers."

Since joining Boeing in 1987, Allen has held a number of program management and leadership positions in space exploration, Army systems and military aircraft and missile systems. This is not Allen's first assignment in Huntsville. He led the Comanche Program Office beginning in 2000 and most recently led Boeing's efforts to develop the space systems needed to support the Vision for Space Exploration, which includes returning to the moon and beyond.

From 1974 through 1987, Allen served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was recalled to active duty for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990. He retired at the rank of colonel in April 2000.

Allen holds a bachelor's degree from Rice University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Association of the United States Army, Marine Corps Aviation Association, the Army Aviation Association of America, the American Helicopter Society and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

Allen replaces Linda Hait, who retired from Boeing last month.

The Boeing Company is the largest aerospace company in Alabama. Today, the workforce of more than 3,000 employees work on the leading edge of key space and defense programs including Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Avenger, PAC-3 Missile, Future Combat System, International Space Station and Delta Launch Vehicles.