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U . S . Army veteran Kareem Foster is one of thousands of Boeing Defense , Space & Security employees in Washington supporting the U . S . military and allies . ( Boeing photo )
Q & A : Boeing ' s defense portfolio is PNW proud
Dan Gillian , vice president and general manager of Boeing ’ s Mobility , Surveillance & Bombers division , discusses his portfolio ’ s prominent presence in the Pacific Northwest , why he loves his job and how the business is turning the corner with help of a skilled workforce .
Dan Gillian — vice president and general manager of Boeing ’ s Mobility , Surveillance and Bombers division , headquartered in Seattle , WA
Since assuming his role in November 2022 , Dan Gillian has led the division through a critical time for Boeing ’ s defense business . With a focus on delivering advanced capability , Boeing suppliers and stakeholders have supported the U . S . and allies in their evolving mission to ensure security and stability for a rapidly changing global environment .
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Now in his 24th year with the company , Gillian says that Boeing ’ s skilled workforce in the Puget Sound region is essential to delivering the military airplanes they manufacture for the Department of Defense and U . S . allies .
Q : When people think of Boeing ’ s impact in the Pacific Northwest , they tend to think of Boeing Commercial Airplanes ( BCA ) first . What is the Mobility , Surveillance & Bombers ( MS & B ) portfolio and how is it connected to the region ?
A : It ’ s understandable why Washingtonians would think that way . Since William Boeing launched The Boeing Company from the “ Red Barn ” more than 100 years ago , some of the most iconic commercial aircraft in history have been built in the Pacific Northwest .
Mobility , Surveillance & Bombers is one of four divisions in Boeing Defense , Space & Security ( BDS ) and is headquartered in Seattle . The portfolio includes several aircraft built or modified in the Pacific Northwest . The KC-46A Pegasus ( a multi-mission aerial refueler ) and P-8A Poseidon ( a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft ), are currently in production in Everett and Tukwila , respectively . The 747-based airframes for VC-25A — or Air Force One when the president of the United States is on board — and its next-generation replacement , VC-25B , were built in Everett . The E-3 AWACS ( Airborne Warning & Control System ) was originally designed and built here , and some modifications still occur here .