Former Bush official to lead EADS American business
By
Nick Wakeman
Former Bush II official Sean O'Keefe will run U.S. operations for EADS North America.
Sean O’Keefe, former NASA administrator and deputy director at the Office of Management and Budget during the George W. Bush administration, has been named chief executive officer of EADS North America.
Ralph Crosby, the current chairman and CEO, will retain his chairman title and oversee EADS role on the Northrop Grumman team pursuing the controversial KC-45 tanker contract with the U.S. Air Force.
O’Keefe assumes his new post on Nov. 1. He joins EADS from General Electric where he has been vice president of GE Aviations’ Washington office.
“Sean O’Keefe’s distinguished career in government, industry and academia provide him with broad expertise and leadership experience,” said EADS CEO Louis Gallois.
In addition to aviation, EADS North America has lines of business in defense systems, avionics and controls, homeland security, test equipment and services, space systems and communications.
Its customers are primarily defense, intelligence and homeland security agencies.