Raytheon's board adds former astronaut
By
Ross Wilkers
Raytheon Technologies' board of directors adds to its ranks a former long-time astronaut and current health care investment leader.
Raytheon Technologies’ board of directors has elected a new member in Dr. Bernard Harris Jr., a veteran astronaut and CEO of health care-focused venture capital firm Vesalius Ventures.
Harris will serve on Raytheon’s audit and special activities committees as an independent director, the company said Monday.
He holds the distinction of being the first African American to walk in space, an accomplishment realized in 1995 on a mission involving Space Shuttle Discovery.
Harris logged more than 438 hours in space during his nearly 15-year career as an astronaut that included research in musculoskeletal phsysiology, clinical investigations of space adaptation and development of in-flight medical devices.
"His groundbreaking work in space and his impressive leadership across business, education and healthcare are remarkable,” Raytheon CEO Greg H We expect our management team, employees and shareowners will benefit from his extensive experience and from the leadership he demonstrates in community development."