A University of Iowa College of Engineering alumnus has been hired to lead a Fortune 500 airplane maker that is one of the world’s largest aerospace manufacturers. 

Robert “Kelly” Ortberg, who earned an Iowa bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1982, has been named president and chief executive officer of Virginia-based Boeing, effective August 8, 2024, replacing Dave Calhoun. Ortberg, 64, brings a 35-year career in the aerospace industry and a strong engineering background.  

“The Board conducted a thorough and extensive search process over the last several months to select the next CEO of Boeing and Kelly has the right skills and experience to lead Boeing in its next chapter,” Steven Mollenkopf, Boeing chair of the board said in a statement. “Kelly is an experienced leader who is deeply respected in the aerospace industry, with a well-earned reputation for building strong teams and running complex engineering and manufacturing companies. We look forward to working with him as he leads Boeing through this consequential period in its long history.” 

In a statement, Ortberg said of his new role, “Boeing has a tremendous and rich history as a leader and pioneer in our industry, and I'm committed to working together with the more than 170,000 dedicated employees of the company to continue that tradition, with safety and quality at the forefront. There is much work to be done, and I'm looking forward to getting started.” 

Ann McKenna, dean of the University of Iowa College of Engineering, congratulated Ortberg on the appointment.

"The College of Engineering is excited to see that Kelly Ortberg has been named president and CEO of Boeing," McKenna stated. "Being selected to lead one of the world’s largest aerospace companies is a testament to the achievements over his distinguished career. We are proud to count him among our alumni. Kelly is the embodiment of the heights one can reach with the foundation laid at the University of Iowa College of Engineering."

Much of Ortberg’s career has been at Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace), where he was entrusted with increasingly significant roles, from joining the company in 1987 to becoming CEO and president in 2013. The Dubuque native led the integration of Collins with United Technologies and RTX (formerly Raytheon). He departed from RTX in 2021.  

Among the key achievements of his career, Ortberg secured milestone contracts for Rockwell Collins in both commercial and government systems, launched innovative product lines that continue to transform commercial and military operations, and helped set the strategy for the future direction of the company. 

Government Systems provides airborne and surface solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, ministries of defense throughout the world, and manufacturers of military platforms. He led the production of aviation electronics and communications for the air transport, business aviation, and regional airline market segments. 

In addition to his professional contributions, Ortberg gives his time and talent in support of many Iowa College of Engineering and STEM initiatives. Ortberg served as a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board and has worked closely with the college on a multitude of projects, including FIRST Tech Challenge of Iowa. 

Ortberg was inducted into the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Academy in 2013 and received the University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2018.