Boeing has announced the appointment of retired Admiral Kirkland Donald as a special advisor to the company. This decision comes as Boeing navigates through the challenges arising from a recent midflight incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 and the consequent grounding of this aircraft model.
In his new role, Donald is tasked with leading a comprehensive review of Boeing’s quality management system. He will report his findings and recommendations directly to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, as well as to the aerospace safety committee of Boeing’s board of directors. The company confirmed this development in a recent press release.
CEO Dave Calhoun emphasized the significance of Donald’s independent assessment, aiming to enhance oversight of quality both within Boeing’s factories and its broader commercial airplane production system. Calhoun assured full support for Donald and his team from across the company in this endeavor.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had earlier grounded Boeing 737 Max 9s this month for inspections following an incident on January 5, where a door plug was dislodged from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. The FAA, in a statement released on Friday, clarified that the grounding would persist while it continues to review inspection data of the aircraft.
Admiral Kirkland Donald brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served nearly 40 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear-trained submarine officer. His tenure culminated as the director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program before his retirement in 2013.
The announcement of Donald’s appointment has come at a critical time for Boeing, with its shares falling approximately 8% on Tuesday and almost 20% since the grounding of the 737 Max 9s.
