ST. LOUIS, Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA]
will consolidate the majority of its defense services and
support-related activities from Washington state to other locations in the
U.S. as part of efforts to improve the competitiveness of its
Boeing Defense, Space & Security unit.
The majority of the work will be relocated to Oklahoma City and St. Louis, where similar activities are
performed today. Some additional work will be shifted to
Jacksonville, Fla. and
Patuxent River, Md. The transition
could take up to three years to complete and affect about 2,000
employees. Once completed, approximately 900 positions could be
added to Oklahoma City and
potentially up to 500 positions to St. Louis.
"The decision to consolidate these activities was difficult
because it affects our employees, their families and their
communities," said Chris Chadwick,
Boeing Defense, Space & Security president and chief executive
officer. "However, this is necessary if we are going to
differentiate ourselves from competitors and stay ahead of a
rapidly changing global defense environment."
To the greatest degree feasible, the company will leverage
Boeing Commercial Airplanes' presence in Puget Sound to mitigate
the impact of this decision on individual employees. Additionally,
the company will provide assistance and resources for employees to
help them throughout this transition, including job search
resources, retirement seminars, and career counseling services.
Even with the announced moves, Boeing Defense, Space &
Security continues a robust presence in the Puget Sound region due
to production of the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and KC-46A
Tanker, which are based on the company's 737 and 767 commercial
airplanes. Today the company's defense business has approximately
5,200 employees in the Puget Sound region.
"We are committed to the long-term success of Boeing in Puget
Sound," said Chadwick. "Both the P-8 and the KC-46A Tanker have
decades-long production runs in front of them."
Programs that will be relocated include services and support
work for Airborne Warning and Control Systems, Airborne Early
Warning & Control and the F-22 Raptor.
"Consolidating this work will allow the business to more
efficiently use the resources and capabilities across the company,"
explained Jim O'Neill, president of
Global Services and Support for Boeing Defense, Space &
Security. "Our goal is to minimize disruption to program execution
by making the necessary changes in an orderly transition."
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space &
Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security
businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven
customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile
manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space &
Security is a $33 billion business
with 56,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter:
@BoeingDefense.
Contact:
Yvonne Johnson-Jones
Global Services & Support
Office: +1 314-111-8800
Mobile: +1 314-306-2516
yvonne.d.johnson-jones@boeing.com
Paul Guse
Global Services & Support
Office: +1 314-232-1520
Mobile: +1 314-705-6530
paul.guse@boeing.com
SOURCE Boeing