James Taiclet
James Taiclet | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 13, 1960 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Known for | CEO and chairman of Lockheed Martin |
James Donald Taiclet Jr. (born May 13, 1960) is an American corporate leader who has held the roles of president and chief executive officer (CEO) at Lockheed Martin since June 2020, and took on the position of chairman in March 2021.
Early life and education
Taiclet was born in Pittsburgh on May 13, 1960. His father served in the U.S. Army before working as a boilermaker in Pittsburgh, while his mother dedicated herself to homemaking and managing school administration.
He earned his engineering and international relations degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1982, where he also captained the rugby team. Subsequently, he obtained a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University and holds a fellowship at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.
Military service
Between 1985 and 1991, Taiclet was a pilot in the United States Air Force, fulfilling duties as an aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and unit chief responsible for standardization and evaluation. During Operation Desert Shield, he completed numerous sorties piloting a Lockheed C-141 Starlifter transport aircraft. His military roles extended to assignments with both the Joint Staff and Air Staff at the Pentagon.
Business career
Taiclet entered the private sector as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company from 1991 until 1996. He subsequently became vice president of engine services at Pratt & Whitney, serving until 1999, after which he assumed the presidency of Honeywell Aerospace Services until 2001.
In 2001, he joined American Tower as chief operating officer. Following Steven B. Dodge's exit, Taiclet was promoted to CEO in October 2003 and elevated to chairman in February 2004. He led American Tower as CEO and board member up through 2020.
Taiclet became a member of Lockheed Martin's board of directors in 2018 and was appointed CEO in June 2020, succeeding Marillyn Hewson. He took on the chairman role in March 2021.
On February 16, China added Lockheed Martin Corporation and Raytheon Missiles & Defense to its unreliable entities list due to arms sales to Taiwan, prohibiting their import/export operations related to China and barring new investments. Senior leaders such as Taiclet are also restricted from entering or residing within China.
Other memberships
During his tenure as CEO at American Tower, Taiclet and his spouse supported charitable organizations including the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Charitable Foundation and the Charles River Center. Additionally, he serves on the board of trustees for Brigham and Women's Hospital.
His board involvement extends to numerous non-profit organizations and NGOs such as the Council on Foreign Relations, Catalyst.org, the U.S.-India Business Council, and the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum. Taiclet has engaged with the World Economic Forum and is affiliated with The Business Council.
Recognition
Between 2013 and 2018, Taiclet was recognized among the world's Harvard Business Review' "Best-Performing CEOs."