Leanne Caret
| Leanne Caret | |
| Caret in 2018 | |
| Leanne Caret | |
| Born | 18 11, 1966[1] |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Title | Former Executive Vice President, Boeing |
| Known for | Former President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
| Education | Wichita State University (MBA) |
| Spouse(s) | Steve Caret[1] |
| Awards | Fortune Most Powerful Women list |
Leanne G. Caret (born November 18, 1966) is an American business executive who served as president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) and as executive vice president of The Boeing Company from 2016 until her retirement in 2022. Over the course of a career spanning more than three decades at Boeing, Caret rose through the company's ranks from an entry-level position in its Wichita, Kansas operations to the leadership of one of the world's largest defense and aerospace enterprises. She was recognized by Fortune magazine on its Most Powerful Women list[2] and has served on the boards of directors of several major corporations, including Raytheon Technologies and Deere & Company. Following her retirement from Boeing, Caret has continued to be active in the aerospace and defense sector, joining the Board of Trustees of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and providing consulting services. She also serves on the board of governors of the United Service Organizations (USO).
Early Life
Leanne Caret was born on November 18, 1966.[1] Details regarding her family background and childhood remain largely private. She grew up in Kansas and pursued her education in the state, attending Kansas State University for her undergraduate studies before later earning a graduate degree from Wichita State University.[1] Her early years in Kansas would prove formative, as the state's deep ties to the aviation and aerospace manufacturing industry — particularly through Boeing's significant operations in Wichita — helped shape the trajectory of her professional career.
Education
Caret earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University.[1] She subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Wichita State University.[1] Her educational background in business administration provided a foundation for her rise through the financial and operational management ranks at Boeing.
Career
Early Career at Boeing (1988–2015)
Caret joined Boeing in 1988, beginning what would become a 34-year career with the company.[1][3] She started in the company's operations in Wichita, Kansas, which at the time served as a major hub for Boeing's manufacturing activities. During her early career at Boeing, Caret was recognized for her professional achievements when the Wichita Business Journal named her to its "40 Under 40" list, highlighting her as one of the area's rising business leaders.[1]
Over the years, Caret held a series of progressively senior positions across Boeing's defense and commercial operations. Her career trajectory encompassed roles in finance, program management, and business operations, giving her broad exposure to the company's diverse portfolio. She developed expertise in the defense sector in particular, working across programs that spanned military aircraft, space systems, and related technologies.
President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (2016–2022)
In late 2015, Boeing announced that Caret would assume leadership of its Defense, Space & Security division, the St. Louis–based unit responsible for the company's military, space, and security-related programs.[4][5] She formally took the role of president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) and was simultaneously named an executive vice president of The Boeing Company, placing her among the most senior executives in the corporation's leadership structure.[5]
As head of BDS, Caret oversaw one of the largest defense contractors in the United States. The division's portfolio included major programs such as fighter aircraft, rotorcraft, satellite systems, missile defense, autonomous systems, and cybersecurity services. BDS served as a primary contractor to the United States Department of Defense, NASA, and allied governments worldwide.
Caret's tenure at the helm of BDS was described as spanning a turbulent period for the division.[3] During her six years leading the unit, BDS faced a number of significant challenges. The division contended with cost overruns and technical difficulties on several high-profile programs, competitive pressures from rival defense contractors, and the broader operational and financial strains that affected Boeing as a whole during this period. Despite these challenges, Caret led the division through a time of continued large-scale program execution and competition for major defense contracts.
During her time as BDS president and CEO, Caret was recognized on Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women list, which ranked her among the most influential female executives in American business.[2] The listing reflected her position as one of the most senior women in the aerospace and defense industry, a sector historically dominated by male leadership.
Retirement from Boeing
On March 28, 2022, Boeing announced that Caret would retire from the company after 34 years of service.[6][3] Her successor as president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security was Ted Colbert, who had previously led Boeing Global Services. Colbert's appointment was noted as making him the only Black chief executive among the top 50 U.S. defense firms at the time.[3]
Following her formal retirement, Caret continued to support Boeing in an advisory capacity. In late 2022, it was reported that she would provide recruitment-related consulting support to the company through a consulting firm, assisting Boeing with talent acquisition efforts during a period when the aerospace and defense industry was facing significant workforce challenges.[7]
Post-Retirement Board Service and Activities
After leaving Boeing, Caret took on a series of corporate board positions and advisory roles that reflected her standing in the aerospace, defense, and manufacturing industries.
In January 2023, Raytheon Technologies (now RTX Corporation) announced the election of Caret to its board of directors.[8][9] The appointment placed her on the board of one of the world's largest aerospace and defense companies, a peer competitor to Boeing in many market segments. Raytheon Technologies described her as "an experienced aerospace and defense industry leader" in announcing the appointment.[9]
Caret had also joined the board of directors of Deere & Company in November 2021, while still serving as a Boeing executive. Deere & Company, the manufacturer of John Deere-branded equipment, elected her to its board and described her as "a leading manufacturing executive."[10]
In April 2024, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University announced that Caret had been appointed to its Board of Trustees. The university described her as a "longtime CEO and Fortune 100 director" and noted that she brought decades of experience in the aviation industry to the board.[11][12] She joined the board alongside Kenn Ricci, another prominent aviation industry figure.[12]
Personal Life
Caret is married to Steve Caret.[1] She maintains a relatively private personal life outside of her professional activities. In addition to her corporate board service, she serves on the board of governors of the United Service Organizations (USO), the nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to members of the United States military and their families. Her involvement with the USO reflects the close connection between her professional career in the defense industry and support for military service members.
Recognition
Caret received recognition throughout her career for her achievements in business and the aerospace and defense industry. Among the most notable:
- She was named to the Wichita Business Journal "40 Under 40" list early in her career, recognizing her as one of the top young business professionals in the Wichita, Kansas area.[1]
- She was ranked on Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women list, which placed her at number 23 among the most powerful women in American business.[2]
- She was described as "a leading manufacturing executive" by Deere & Company upon her election to that company's board of directors.[10]
- She was characterized as "an experienced aerospace and defense industry leader" by Raytheon Technologies upon her appointment to its board.[8][9]
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University described her as a "longtime CEO and Fortune 100 director" when announcing her appointment to the university's Board of Trustees.[11]
Her career trajectory from an entry-level position in Boeing's Wichita operations to the executive vice presidency of one of the world's largest aerospace companies made her one of the most prominent women to lead a major U.S. defense business unit.
Legacy
Leanne Caret's career at Boeing is notable for both its duration and the level of leadership she attained within a sector historically characterized by limited representation of women in senior executive roles. As president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, she led a business unit with tens of thousands of employees and billions of dollars in annual revenue, overseeing programs that spanned military aviation, space exploration, missile defense, and cybersecurity.
Her six-year tenure at the helm of BDS coincided with a period of significant challenge for Boeing, and her leadership was tested by programmatic, financial, and reputational pressures across the company's defense portfolio.[3] The transition of leadership to Ted Colbert upon her retirement marked a generational shift in BDS's executive ranks.[6][3]
Following her retirement, Caret's selection for board positions at Raytheon Technologies, Deere & Company, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University reflected the breadth of her expertise and the regard in which she was held across the aerospace, defense, and manufacturing sectors.[8][10][11] Her post-retirement consulting work with Boeing on recruitment matters further underscored her continued engagement with workforce development issues in the defense industry.[7]
Her career path — from Kansas State University and entry-level work in Boeing's Wichita facilities to the executive suite of one of the world's largest defense contractors — represents a trajectory spanning the full hierarchy of a major American corporation over more than three decades.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 "40 Under 40: Leanne Caret".Wichita Business Journal.https://web.archive.org/web/20140814031151/https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/feature/40under40/leanne-caret.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Leanne Caret".Fortune.https://web.archive.org/web/20181120221246/http://fortune.com/most-powerful-women/leanne-caret-23/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Boeing Defense CEO Retires After Six Turbulent Years".Defense One.2022-03-28.https://www.defenseone.com/business/2022/03/boeing-defense-ceo-caret-retires-after-turbulent-six-years/363724/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ "Boeing names Leanne Caret to head St. Louis-based defense unit".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/boeing-names-leanne-caret-to-head-st-louis-based-defense/article_411d717f-19d5-577b-84a5-7a592ce5ab08.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Caret takes leadership post at Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division".Palmetto Business Daily.https://palmettobusinessdaily.com/stories/510700703-caret-takes-leadership-post-at-boeing-s-defense-space-and-security-division.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Boeing appoints Ted Colbert as CEO of defense and space business".Reuters.2022-03-28.https://www.reuters.com/business/boeing-appoints-ted-colbert-ceo-defense-space-business-2022-03-28/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Leanne Caret to Help Boeing With Recruiting via Consulting Firm".GovCon Wire.2022-12-28.https://www.govconwire.com/articles/leanne-caret-to-help-boeing-with-recruiting-via-consulting-firm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Raytheon Technologies Appoints Leanne G. Caret to Board of Directors".PR Newswire.2023-01-16.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/raytheon-technologies-appoints-leanne-g-caret-to-board-of-directors-301722801.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Leanne Caret Elected to Raytheon Technologies' Board".WashingtonExec.2023-01-17.https://washingtonexec.com/2023/01/leanne-caret-elected-to-raytheon-technologies-board/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Boeing Executive Leanne Caret Joins Deere Board of Directors".PR Newswire.2021-11-01.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-executive-leanne-caret-joins-deere-board-of-directors-301412818.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Embry-Riddle Welcomes Aviation Business Veteran Leanne Caret to Board of Trustees".Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.2024-04-05.https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-welcomes-aviation-business-veteran-leanne-caret-to-board-of-trustees.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Embry-Riddle Welcomes Two Aviation Business Leaders to Board of Trustees".Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.2024-04-10.https://news.erau.edu/headlines/embry-riddle-welcomes-two-aviation-business-leaders-to-board-of-trustees.Retrieved 2026-02-24.