Aerospace
10 Boeing operations leaders
These ten people hold or have held director, executive director and vice president roles in operations at Boeing, across 737, 747, 777 and 787 production, the C-17 and space and launch work. A reader can learn how Boeing runs factory and program operations for commercial, defense and space aircraft.
Professionals to explore
01—10Corey Knudtson
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Operations - 787 BPS and Site Expansion · Boeing
Senior Director of Operations - 787 BPS and Site Expansion at Boeing since October 2024, based in Charleston, South Carolina. At Boeing Corey Knudtson was also Senior Director of Operations - 787 Final Assembly (2023–2024), Senior Director of Operations - 787 Join Verification (2022–2023) and Director of Industrial Engineering - 787 Program (2019–2022).
Darrel Larson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations - 777 777X Program · Boeing
Vice President Operations - 777 777X Program at Boeing since June 2024, based in Everett, Washington. At Boeing Darrel Larson was also Vice President of Operations - 787 Program (2019–2024), Director of Operations - 787 Aft Body (2016–2019), Build Integration Leader - 787-10 Program (2015–2016) and Director of Manufacturing - 737 Final Assembly (2011–2015).
Diego Torres
LinkedInExperience: Sr Director of Operations · Boeing
Sr Director of Operations at Boeing since October 2022, based in San Antonio, Texas, in the Operations department at director level. Diego Torres was previously Site Director GKN Aerospace (2021–2022), Chief Operating Officer at Broco Rankin (2018–2021) and Director of Operations - General Manager at United Technologies Aerospace Systems (2013–2018).
Eric Sturgeon
LinkedInExperience: C-17 Executive Director of Operations · Boeing
C-17 Executive Director of Operations at Boeing since October 2024, in the Operations department at director level. Other Boeing roles include F-15 EPAWSS Senior Operations Leader (2024–2025), Space Launch Systems Production Superintendent (2017–2025), 787 Operations Director (I) (2017) and 787 Operations Superintendent (2013–2017).
Jeffrey Ray
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director - Boeing Space and Launch Operations · Boeing
Former Senior Director - Boeing Space and Launch Operations (2018–2022), a role the profile describes as overseeing the full scope of operations for the space and launch division. Jeffrey Ray was also Director of Operations, Quality, Environmental Health & Safety Missile & Defense at Boeing (2014–2018).
Jonathan Sweet
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director of Operations 777 LEAN Flow Enablers · Boeing
Executive Director of Operations 777 LEAN Flow Enablers at Boeing since September 2025, responsible, according to the profile, for driving end-to-end operational performance through disciplined flow. At Boeing Jonathan Sweet was also Executive Director of Operations 777 777X Fuselage Assembly Center (2022–2025) and Senior Operations Manager 777 777X Preflight and Change Incorp Refurb (2020–2022).
Marty Chamberlin
LinkedInExperience: VP of Operations · The Boeing Co.
VP of Operations at The Boeing Co. since September 2016, leading a team the profile says is responsible for the assembly of the Boeing 737, including wing manufacturing, the P8, the Next Generation 737 and the MAX 737. At Boeing Marty Chamberlin was also Director of Factory Operations (2014–2016) and Operations Development Director (2011–2014).
Michael Kukes
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director of Operations · Boeing
Executive Director of Operations at Boeing since July 2026, in North Charleston, South Carolina, leading Boeing's 787 Aft Body manufacturing organization across fabrication, assembly and integration operations. Michael Kukes was previously Sr. Director, Operations at Airbus (2024–2026), Site Leader at Amazon (2022–2024) and Director, Operations at Airbus (2015–2022).
Mike Bunker
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Operations · Boeing
Vice President of Operations at Boeing since August 2020, based in Seattle, with a profile headline naming the 747 and 767/KC-46 programs; the profile says Mike Bunker leads the manufacturing team producing the 747. The profile also lists a Managing Director Site Leader role at The Boeing Company since 2017.
Peter Johnson
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · Boeing
Former Vice President Operations at Boeing (2020–2022), based in Seattle, and former Vice President & General Manager at Boeing (2022–2025), with a profile headline of Vice President & General Manager at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Other former Boeing roles include Vice President- Supply Chain Fulfillment, Customers & Programs (2019–2020) and Senior Director Supplier Management (2017–2019).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person to the program and factory stage behind your question, since final assembly, fuselage and aft body production, flow improvement and site leadership are run by different teams. Check each person's dates, especially for anyone who has left an operations role, before asking how a program runs today.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How does Boeing plan and protect production rate increases on a commercial airplane line?
- 02What operations metrics do Boeing leaders watch most closely in final assembly, and how do they respond when a line falls behind?
- 03How do Boeing operations teams handle supplier delays or traveled work without stopping the line?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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