The Lockheed Martin executive responsible for development of the troubled F-35 joint strike fighter, Dan Crowley, got a strong endorsement and vote of confidence Thursday from his boss, Lockheed Chief Executive Robert Stevens.

“I have absolute confidence in him in this role,” Stevens said in a telephone news conference. “I have no intention of removing Dan Crowley from this program.”

Stevens’ comments came in a joint conference call with Ashton Carter, the chief Pentagon weapons buyer, after a two-day meeting in Fort Worth on the F-35 program.

After Carter and Stevens discussed the revised plan and budget for the F-35 program, Stevens was asked if he planned any changes in the Lockheed management team. Crowley, executive vice president and F-35 program general manager for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth, has specifically come under fire for the program’s delays and rising costs.

“I’ve known and worked with him (Crowley) for a long time and he’s very bright, talented and capable,” Stevens said. “I’m going to work to strengthen his team.”

Carter, undersecretary of defense for weapons acquisition, said the Pentagon and Lockheed “now have a realistic plan” and budget for fixing the F-35 program and getting development of the next generation combat aircraft back on track with minimum delays.

Editors Note:

Daniel J. Crowley was appointed Executive Vice President of the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Joint Strike Fighter Program effective May 2, 2005. He is responsible for successful completion of the F-35 System Design and Development Program, transition to full rate production, and global deployment and sustainment of three F-35 variants for 13 military services in nine partner countries. Mr. Crowley has held several key positions with Lockheed Martin, including President of Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support, where he led a 2700-person company focused on mission readiness and Vice President of Business Development and Advanced Programs for Lockheed Martin Space and Strategic Missiles responsible for strategic planning, advanced technology concepts and new business acquisition.

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