The executive in charge of the division that has 2 astronauts stuck in space is leaving Boeing

Ted Colbert, the head of Boeing’s defense, space, and security division is leaving the company after 15 years, CEO Kelly Ortberg announced Friday in a staff memo.

Ted Colbert, the head of Boeing’s defense, space, and security division is leaving the company after 15 years, CEO Kelly Ortberg told staff in a memo on Friday, according to CNBC.

CNBC reported that in the memo, Ortberg — who came to Boeing in early August — thanked Colbert for his service to the company and announced that Steve Parker, the chief operating officer of Boeing’s defense, space, and security division, would take over Colbert’s duties until a replacement can be named.

Colbert and representatives for Boeing did not immediately respond to requests for comment from B-17.

“At this critical juncture, our priority is to restore the trust of our customers and meet the high standards they expect of us to enable their critical missions around the world,” CNBC reported Ortberg wrote in the memo. “Working together, we can and will improve our performance and ensure we deliver on our commitments.”

Colbert’s departure comes amid significant turbulence in the company. He is the first executive to leave the company since Ortberg became CEO. It’s unclear what led to his departure.

Boeing’s defense, space, and security division has had budget overruns in developing its next-generation tanker for the US Air Force, according to Defense News, and had recent issues with its Starliner spacecraft.

Earlier this month, the Starliner returned to Earth without issue but also without the NASA astronauts who piloted it to the International Space Station. NASA announced last month that the astronauts would remain on the space station and will return on a SpaceX craft in February 2024 due to concerns about thruster issues and a helium leak with the Starliner.

Stock for the aerospace company is down more than 39% since January 1.