Boeing relocates missile division from Arlington to Huntsville

The Boeing Co. is relocating the Arlington, Va., headquarters of its Missile Defense Systems (MDS) division to the company’s facilities in Huntsville, Ala.

The move, which is to begin immediately, will ensure that the missile division remains aligned with its government customers, while adding to Boeing’s presence in the Huntsville community, Boeing said in a statement today.

Initially, Boeing will shift division management and support functions, such as Human Resources and Finance, to Huntsville. The company will then evaluate moving other employees currently working on MDS programs in Arlington. Between 40 and 50 employees could be transferred by the end of this year, Boeing said.

“Huntsville is a leader in the aerospace industry, and Boeing is proud of its 47-year partnership with this community, which now includes work on defense, space and commercial programs,” Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager for Boeing Missile Defense Systems, said in the statement.

Hyslop added that many Boeing customers have been locating their personnel and operations to Huntsville, “so now is the right time for us to center our missile defense business here as well,” he said.

Boeing is the largest aerospace company in Alabama and one of the state’s largest employers.

Boeing, of Chicago, ranks No. 2 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.