Boeing elevates exec to autonomous lead

Boeing has appointed a new leader for its autonomous systems portfolio as the executive formerly in charge of that piece takes on a new role to lead the integration of Embraer’s engineering operations.

Two-decade company veteran Kristin Robertson succeeded Chris Raymond in July as vice president and general manager for autonomous systems within the defense, space and security segment. She was formerly vice president of engineering and chief engineer for the fixed-wing aircraft division also within the “BDS” business.

In turn, Raymond will shift to overseeing the integration of Brazilian airplane maker Embraer’s product and engineering operations with those of Boeing. The companies announced they would form a commercial jet-focused joint venture in July through which Boeing will hold an 80-percent stake.

Boeing Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith announced Raymond’s new position role at an Aug. 8 investor conference hosted by Jefferies.

Last summer, Boeing restructured its BDS business and stood up the autonomous systems organization that includes a vast portion of the company’s unmanned platforms.

As part of the 2017 WT Top 100 series, Raymond told us at the time that Boeing sees the move as extending the conversation around unmanned technologies beyond just that word “unmanned” and the platform itself but as a broader concept around autonomy.