Boeing is promoting Pat Goggin to be President of its Defense, Space & Security Development organization, succeeding Jim O’Neill who will retire next year.

Goggin currently is Vice President of Airplane Programs Engineering for the company’s Commercial Airplanes unit, overseeing the engineering teams that support all the current 7-series passenger planes. Before that, he was vice president of Boeing’s Development Program Excellence initiative, focused on properly starting programs and identifying key risk areas.

“During more than three decades with Boeing, Jim built a legacy that will endure for many years to come. Pat’s experience across commercial and defense programs will help us grow a stable of strong development programs on the foundation that Jim put in place,” said Leanne Caret, President and CEO of Defense, Space & Security.

BDS Development oversees the pre-production phases of key defense and space programs with a goal of enhancing performance prior to entering production. It, and a similar organization in Commercial Airplanes, demonstrate the company’s best-of-Boeing approach to reduce risk and improve the affordability of key development activities.

Goggin, who has worked at Boeing for 29 years, will move into his new role in December so he and O’Neill can collaborate during a transition period.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) is one of The Boeing Company’s five divisions. Its portfolio includes manned and unmanned aircraft programs, space and satellite systems, intelligence and security systems, and extensive integration expertise.

BDS is a $30 billion business with about 50,000 employees worldwide. Boeing is celebrating its centennial through 2016.