‍DALLAS – After less than a year, Boeing’s Senior vice president of quality for commercial airplanes, Elizabeth Lund, will retire next month.

Lund had planned to retire this year. She is one of the company’s most prominent female executives, having been with Boeing for over 33 years. 

The executive was responsible for restoring Boeing’s quality control after the door-sized panel blew off during an Alaska Airlines (AS) flight in January, having been appointed as senior vice president of quality at Boeing Commercial Airplanes in February 2024.

Prior to taking on the quality role, Lund had a long career at Boeing spanning over three decades in various leadership positions. In a message to the organization, Lund wrote that she did not make the decision lightly.

“Boeing has been a part of my life for more than 30 years. A piece of my heart will always be with this company. I will always root for you.” Lund wrote in an internal communique.

Boeing in Crisis 

With Boeing in crisis since the Alaska Airlines incident, Lund has constantly been in the spotlight. She was required to respond to questions from regulators and Congress concerning issues and had to outline plans to remedy quality management systems at the aircraft producer. 

Then, in August, Lund was involved in a public hearing where she had to outline how quality processes were being restored at Boeing. Lund’s qualifications and experience in aeronautical engineering helped her career at Boeing. She has led various major jet programs, including the 777 and 747 programs and Boeing’s commercial airplanes supply chain.

Doug Ackerman will take over from Lund when she retires next month. He has served as vice president of supply chain and fabrication quality at Boeing. Ackermann is well placed to succeed Lund since he has worked closely with her on the FAA-approved safety and quality plan.