Boeing Appoints New Washington, D.C. Corporate Office Leaders

CHICAGO, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) has announced three new executives for key roles within its Washington, D.C., Government Operations office.

David H. Morrison, most recently a principal at the Podesta Group, will join Boeing as vice president, Government Operations, and Sean I. McCormack will join the company from the U.S. State Department, taking on responsibilities as vice president, Communications.

In addition, Brigadier General (Retired) Leo A. Brooks, Jr., becomes vice president, National Security and Space. He moves from the company's Integrated Defense Systems business unit, where he had been vice president, Business Development, Army Systems.

Morrison and Brooks, whose positions are new, will report to Tim Keating, senior vice president, Government Operations. McCormack will report to Tom Downey, senior vice president, Communications. Phil Ruter, currently vice president of legislative affairs, moves to a new position as chief of staff for Keating.

"David, Sean and Leo are incredibly accomplished and well-respected leaders," said Keating. "David's budget and appropriations process experience is unparalleled. Sean is a seasoned pro in media relations and issues management. And Leo knows our government customers and their programs exceedingly well. We look forward to having their energy, enthusiasm and strong work ethic on our team," he said.

Morrison, 51, will serve as the company's chief lobbyist covering all appropriations and authorizations matters. At the Podesta Group, he chaired the National Security and International Policy practice. Previously, he served as staff director for the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee where he was responsible for developing legislation to fund all U.S. military activities, and national foreign and defense intelligence programs.

In addition, he served as the Deputy Associate Director for National Security at the Office of Management and Budget, and as a professional staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee. In these roles he had broad oversight responsibilities for Department of Defense operations, investment, and intelligence programs. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal.

McCormack, 44, most recently was assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. State Department, reporting to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He was responsible for the State Department's global communications strategies, including media relations, state and local government relations, and digital media outreach. In addition, he served the department as chief spokesman.

From 2001-2005, McCormack was deputy White House press secretary and National Security Council spokesman. In that role, he was responsible for National Security Council media relations and prepared Rice for her testimony before the 9-11 Commission when she was National Security Advisor.

Brooks, 51, becomes Boeing's senior corporate liaison with the Pentagon, NASA, and the Department of Homeland Security. He joined Boeing in 2006 after a 27-year Army career where he earned the rank of brigadier general and commanded units in virtually every echelon of the Army. His last Army assignment was as the Vice Director of the Army Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff, in the Pentagon. He also served as the 68th Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and is a West Point graduate.

In his Boeing Army Systems business development role, Brooks represented the company's viewpoints to policy and analysis organizations while also working within Boeing to provide strategic guidance on current issues and help position the company to compete for and win new business.

McCormack joins Boeing Feb. 27; Morrison will start March 6. Brooks began his assignment earlier this month. All three will be based in the company's Rosslyn, Va., office.