Less than two months after declaring that Dan Crowley wouldn’t be budged from his job as head of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program despite the turbulence that it has experienced of late, company leaders Monday announced that Crowley will be promoted to chief operating officer of Lockheed’s aeronautics sector. There, he’ll oversee not only the F-35, but the F-22, F-16, C-130, and C-5M programs. Ralph Heath, Lockheed’s aeronautics czar, explained the change, saying the company is at “an inflection point” on the F-35 as it transitions to production, and it’s necessary to ensure that the aeronautics business unit “is organized and aligned to successfully meet all” of its commitments. Defense Secretary Robert Gates sacked the Pentagon’s F-35 program manager in February, but Lockheed CEO Bob Stevens stuck with Crowley despite frustration voiced over his performance. Larry Lawson, who’s been F-22 program head, will now lead the F-35.
Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, warned that Russia would remain an enduring threat to NATO and global security, regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine.