Boeing Co. has confirmed company veteran Stephen Parker as permanent chief executive of its Defense, Space and Security division, moving him up from the interim role he has held since September 2024. Parker, who joined the planemaker in 1988 and previously served as the unit’s chief operating officer, assumes immediate responsibility for programs ranging from combat aircraft and helicopters to classified space systems. The appointment fills a leadership gap created when former defense chief Ted Colbert left the company last year and follows Boeing’s decision on Monday to bring in former Lockheed Martin finance chief Jay Malave as group chief financial officer. Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg said Parker had “stabilized operations” and improved execution during his interim tenure, a period marked by supply-chain challenges and cost overruns on fixed-price defense contracts. Boeing’s defense arm is under pressure to deliver on major programs such as the KC-46 tanker and T-7 trainer while also integrating its recent win of the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation fighter contract. Parker’s permanent elevation rounds out Ortberg’s senior leadership team as the company seeks to restore profitability and credibility across its commercial and defense portfolios.