Lockheed Martin Appoints Chauncey McIntosh as New Head of F-35 Program

Chauncey McIntosh will take over as the new general manager of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program beginning December 1st, according to an announcement made by the company. McIntosh, who is presently working as vice president and deputy on the F-35 program, will succeed Bridget Lauderdale, who is scheduled to retire at the end of the year after a remarkable 38-year career with the firm during which she has held the position of vice president.

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The president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Greg Ulmer, lauded McIntosh for his leadership abilities and expertise, saying, "Chauncey is an exceptional leader with distinct qualifications needed to lead the F-35 program." McIntosh is a pioneer in the field of aerospace engineering. The hiring of this individual comes at a time when the program is experiencing a difficult moment. The program has been experiencing serious software challenges, which have resulted in a year-long suspension in delivery beginning in July of 2023. Due to issues with the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade, which is intended to improve onboard displays and processing capabilities, the United States Department of Defense has temporarily halted the acceptance of new F-35 aircraft vehicles.

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Before he participated in the F-35 program, McIntosh held the positions of vice president and general manager of integrated warfare systems and sensors at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems. His responsibilities included managing a variety of missile defense and combat system integration programs and overseeing the development of software for essential systems such as the Aegis Weapon System.

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As soon as McIntosh assumes this crucial position, he will be entrusted with tackling existing issues while simultaneously ensuring that the F-35 lives up to the expectations of customers in the United States as well as customers in other countries. His leadership will be essential in navigating the complexity of this high-profile defense program, as there are presently over one thousand F-35s in operation throughout the world thanks to his efforts.

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