Boeing Hires New Lead for Air Force One Project

Program faces cost overruns and years of delays.

Friday, June 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

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President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One, a modified Boeing 747-200 referred to by the military as VC-25A [Credit: Shutterstock/Evan El-Amin]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing has appointed Steve Sullivan, a former Northrop Grumman executive experienced in complex military aircraft programs, to lead its troubled Air Force One program.
The program, which involves converting two 747-8s into the VC-25 presidential aircraft, faces significant delays, pushing the delivery date from 2024 to 2027 due to work and supply chain issues.
These delays are causing substantial cost overruns, potentially leading to billions of dollars in losses for Boeing, and have prompted former President Trump to seek an interim presidential jet.

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Boeing has hired a former executive at defense contractor Northrop Grumman to take over its troubled Air Force One program, according to a Reuters report.

Steve Sullivan, formerly the general manager of Northrop’s strike division, will replace current Air Force One chief Gregg Coffey, who is moving to another role at Boeing. Reuters cited two unnamed sources briefed on the personnel change. Boeing declined to comment.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.