On Oct. 16, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Scott Carson named Pat Shanahan vice president and general manager of the 787 program. Shanahan moves from vice president, Missile Defense Systems at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and succeeds Mike Bair, who will become vice president Business Strategy and Marketing for Commercial Airplanes, replacing Mike Cave, whose move to a position at Boeing Corporate Offices was announced earlier.

Both changes are effective immediately.

"Pat's experience and proven record managing demanding and complex programs will allow him to build on the 787 team's success as we tackle the challenges we face in bringing our new production system fully on line," Carson said. "He knows how to deliver results, understands our customers and their requirements, and has the leadership skills to get the job done."

"Mike has taken the 787 program from a concept to a market-leading position," Carson added. "The customer focus and knowledge he brings from that experience -- as well as the insight and knowledge of our new business model and supplier base -- will help us immeasurably as we take our next steps with future products, services and business strategy."

The move marks a return to Commercial Airplanes for Shanahan, who has led both the 757 and 767-400ER programs. He moved to IDS in 2002, first to lead Boeing's Rotorcraft division, operated from the company's Philadelphia and Mesa sites, before taking over leadership of Boeing's missile defense programs -- including the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System (GMD) -- in 2004.

Boeing is the prime contractor on the GMD, leading a team of top aerospace companies that have successfully developed, tested and deployed a highly innovative and technically complex system for defending against ballistic missile attacks. The latest test of the system -- the technical challenges of which are often described as "hitting a bullet with a bullet" -- occurred Sep. 28 when the Boeing-led GMD system was able to track, intercept and destroy a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean.

Bair has been responsible for all aspects of the 787 program since its launch in 2004. The 787 -- which will provide airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, environmental performance and passenger comfort -- has enjoyed the most successful launch of any airplane program in the history of commercial aviation, with 710 orders from 50 airlines from around the world.

Previously, Bair served as vice president and general manager for Commercial Aviation Services, where he was credited with successfully restructuring the services business for improved competitiveness and performance.