Lockheed adds former DHS secretary Johnson, telecom exec Taiclet to board

Lockheed Martin has added former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and former Honeywell Aerospace CEO James Taiclet to the defense contractor’s board of directors.

Both appointments take effect Jan. 1, 2018, Lockheed said Monday. Johnson will serve on the classified business and security committee and ethics and sustainability committee. Taiclet will serve on the nominating and corporate governance committee and strategic affairs committee.

Johnson was homeland security secretary from 2013 to 2017 and prior to that was the Defense Department’s general counsel from 2009 to 2012.

He is also a former general counsel for the Air Force general counsel and assistant U.S. attorney for New York’s southern district. He currently is a partner at law firm Paul Weiss and held stints there prior to and between his periods of public service.

Taiclet is chairman, president and CEO of telecommunications real estate developer American Tower Corp. and has led the company since 2003.

His career prior to that includes time as president of the Honeywell aerospace services business, vice president of engine services at Pratt & Whitney and a consultant in telecommunications and aerospace at McKinsey & Co.