Boeing Appoints Special Advisor to Evaluate Quality Management System

Boeing has announced the appointment of Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Kirkland Donald as a special advisor to Chief Executive Dave Calhoun. Donald's primary responsibility will be to evaluate the company's quality management system for commercial planes. His recommendations will be presented to Calhoun as well as the Aerospace Safety Committee of Boeing's board.

Currently serving as chairman of Huntington Ingalls Industries and chairing nonprofit Battelle's board, Donald brings a wealth of experience to this role. Recognized for his expertise in ensuring the integrity of complex safety and quality systems, he is well-suited for this critical task.

Boeing has been under scrutiny following an incident where a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines plane during a flight. As a result, regulators have launched investigations, and the grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX 9 jets by airline regulators has added to the company's challenges.

In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to intensify inspections of Boeing's manufacturing facilities. In line with these developments, Donald and a team of external experts will assess the company's quality programs and practices in manufacturing facilities. They will also review its oversight of the quality of parts from commercial suppliers.

Calhoun expressed his confidence in Donald's leadership, emphasizing his track record in preserving safety and quality in highly intricate systems. The statement from Calhoun assured full support from both him and the entire Boeing organization for Donald and his team.