Boeing unit pipes aboard former admiral as COO

Retired Navy Vice Adm. Doug Crowder has been named chief operating officer of Kestrel Enterprises Inc., a subsidiary of the Boeing Company.

Crowder will assume responsibility for the more than 300 Kestrel employees who provide products and services to more than 16,000 worldwide users of Kestrel TAC software, which provides real-time, collaborative analysis and decision-making through the continuous questioning of all incoming information, a Boeing statement said today.

Kestrel TAC is used throughout the Defense Department, intelligence community and the broader national security community, as well as by several other U.S. government agencies, according to the statement.

“This appointment broadens Boeing's experience and leadership to address an important national-security customer base,” said Dewey Houck, director of Mission Systems for Boeing Intelligence & Security Systems.

Crowder previously served as commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet and deputy chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy.

As commander, he was responsible for all Navy forces throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. He also served as a senior Navy representative to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the other services.

Kestrel Enterprises is based in Washington, D.C.

Boeing Co., of Chicago, ranks No. 3 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.