Cubic appoints new chief scientist

Cubic Corp. has hired almost four-decade aerospace veteran and former Boeing chief technologist David Whelan as senior vice president and chief scientist.

San Diego-based Cubic said Monday that Whelan will be responsible for establishing product line technical strategies and engineering practices, plus collaborate with other company leaders on the production of new products.

Whelan will also advise Cubic’s two business units in defense and transportation on their strategies for innovation, both in terms of technology maturity and internal research-and-development efforts.

At Boeing, Whelan was vice president of engineering and chief technologist with responsibility for growth strategies and R&D budgets for creating new products.

Whelan’s career at Boeing from 2001 to 2017 included assignments at its corporate business development and strategy organization and Phantom Works advanced R&D business, plus a stint as chief scientist for the defense segment.

Prior to Boeing, Whelan served as director of the tactical technology office at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency and before that was acting director for DARPA’s sensor technology office.

Cubic touted Whelan’s experience in leading the transitions of technologies for artificial intelligence capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned submarines, space-based surveillance and in-orbit robotic satellite servicing. He has also contributed to applied research in quantum technologies for miniature atom-based clocks, computing, gravimetry, and inertial sensing to enable resiliency of GPS systems.