Lockheed Martin’s promotion of Dan Crowley on Monday to chief operating officer of the company’s aeronautics business unit, after five years at the helm of the company’s F-35 program, brings with it changes to another Air Force fighter project. Larry Lawson, after six years heading the F-22 program, moves over into Crowley’s old F-35 spot, while George Shultz, the company’s deputy general manager of the F-22 since 2008, now becomes it general manager. Ralph Heath, Lockheed’s aeronautics sector head, said Lawson’s F-22 leadership allowed that program “to set new records for fighter performance, operational test, factory deliveries, and performance-based logistics.” Tom Burbage, general manager for F-35 program integration, will keep his position, in which he works with foreign partners and their industry, and will coordinate with Lawson and “all Lockheed Martin corporate resources to ensure F-35 program success,” according to the company’s release.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…