Kelly Ortberg is the president and CEO of The Boeing Company, a top aerospace business that makes airplanes and offers defense, space, and security services, along with other global services. Before this, he was the president and CEO of Rockwell Collins.
Kelly Ortberg Biography
His full name is Robert Kelly Ortberg, was born in April 1960 in Dubuque, Iowa, where he grew up.
He worked as the executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Government Systems division of his company from 2010 to 2012.
Before that, he was the chief operating officer for the Commercial Systems division from 2006 to 2010.
Throughout his career, he helped the company achieve major successes in the aerospace and defense industries, which eventually earned it a spot on the Fortune 500 list.
Family & Wife
His parents are Carol M. and Robert L. Ortberg. He married Valerie Dee Heitman on August 13, 1983. The couple has two daughters.
Education & Early Life
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa in 1982. At 64 years old, he started his career as an engineer at Texas Instruments in 1983.
In 1987, he joined Rockwell Collins as a program manager and worked there for over 30 years. According to the Washington Post, he became the company’s CEO in 2013.
Boeing Per-Share Loss in Fourth Quarter
On January 28, 2025, Boeing announced progress in boosting airplane production, which caused its stock to rise by 6%. However, the company reported its largest annual loss in four years, amounting to $11.8 billion.
The loss was due to major setbacks in key business areas and the impact of a severe attack. This highlights the challenges faced by CEO Kelly Ortberg, as Boeing struggles to compete with Airbus and faces pressure from regulators and competitors after several mistakes.
Career Journey Of Kelly Ortberg
He began his career as an engineer at Texas Instruments in 1983. In 1987, he joined Rockwell Collins as a program manager. By 2001, he was promoted to vice president and general manager of communication systems.
He continued to rise through the company and became its president and CEO in 2013. He held this role for five years until Rockwell Collins was acquired by United Technologies (UTC) in 2018.
After the acquisition, Ortberg led the merger of Rockwell Collins and UTC Aerospace Systems, creating Collins Aerospace, where he was again named CEO.
He stayed with the company through its 2020 merger with Raytheon to form RTX Corporation, retiring from RTX in 2021.
Ortberg has been involved in leadership roles in the aerospace industry, including serving as chair of the board of governors of the Aerospace Industries Association. He is also on the board of directors for Aptiv.
In 2024, Ortberg became a member of Boeing’s board of directors and was named president and CEO on August 8, 2024. He decided to base himself in the Seattle area, where Boeing’s main commercial aircraft plants are located, a shift from the company’s decision to move its headquarters out of Seattle over 20 years ago.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Kelly Ortberg |
| Profession | Aerospace Executive; Director of RTX Corp; Former CEO of Rockwell Collins and Collins Aerospace |
| Date of Birth | April 1960 (Age 64 as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Dubuque, Iowa, USA |
| Father | Robert L. Ortberg |
| Mother | Carol M. (Koelker) Ortberg |
| Siblings | N/A |
| Wife | Valerie Dee Heitman (married on August 13, 1983) |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Net Worth | At least $30 million (as of 2025) |
| Social Media |
Networth & Awards
As of January 2025, His estimated net worth is at least $30 million. He is a director at RTX Corp and owns about 135,922 shares of RTX stock, valued at over $17 million.
Ortberg’s base salary is $1.5 million per year, potentially earning up to $3 million in performance-based bonuses.
During Ortberg’s leadership, he earned several notable recognitions, including being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute and one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes.
In 2017, Ortberg was honored with the Highest Rated CEO award by Glassdoor.
FAQs
Who is Kelly Ortberg?
Kelly Ortberg is an American business executive known for his leadership roles in the aerospace industry. As of August 2024, he serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Boeing Company.
What is Kelly Ortberg’s educational background?
Ortberg earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Iowa in 1982.
What positions has Kelly Ortberg held prior to becoming Boeing’s CEO?
Before joining Boeing, Ortberg was the President and CEO of Rockwell Collins, an aerospace company specializing in avionics and information technology systems. Following Rockwell Collins’ acquisition by United Technologies Corporation (UTC) in 2018, he led the integration of Rockwell Collins with UTC Aerospace Systems to form Collins Aerospace, where he continued as CEO.
What is Kelly Ortberg’s net worth?
As of 2024, Kelly Ortberg’s estimated net worth is approximately $26 million.
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