Source: Boeing
Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, has been named Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA) for 2022 by U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine. The award, the highest honor in the long-running program, recognizes a public or private sector leader who has navigated business challenges and expanded opportunities for African-Americans in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“Ted Colbert’s leadership, advocacy and true passion to drive positive change is nothing short of an inspiration,” said Tyrone Taborn, CEO and Chief Content Officer for Career Communications Group, a media company that seeks to promote STEM careers. “Our selection committee prides itself on identifying Black leaders that champion diversity, equity and inclusion in all they do – inside and outside the workplace. It was our pleasure to select Ted and we are grateful for all that Ted, and Boeing, have done to further our vision for equity.”
Colbert leads Boeing’s aerospace services development and delivery model for commercial, government and aviation industry customers worldwide, focused on global supply chain and parts distribution, aircraft modifications and maintenance, digital solutions, aftermarket engineering, analytics and training.
“Ted Colbert is incredibly deserving to be recognized with the Black Engineer of the Year Award,” said Dave Calhoun, president and CEO of Boeing. “Ted serves with tremendous impact, leading a diverse team of colleagues spanning more than 70 countries while building valued relationships with our customers, suppliers and stakeholders. Ted’s longstanding commitment to STEM exemplifies leadership in action, bringing his experience, perspective and learnings to students and the next generation of leaders entering the aerospace industry and beyond. We are delighted to celebrate this great recognition for Ted.”
Colbert, who holds Industrial and Systems Engineering degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse College, joined Boeing in 2009 after serving as senior vice president of Enterprise Architecture at Citigroup and holding key leadership roles at Ford Motor Company.
“Since the earliest days of my career – when I was in the audience of the annual BEYA STEM Conferences – I’ve looked up to the recipients of this prestigious award,” said Colbert. “These pioneering leaders raised the bar for all of us and it is an absolute honor to be counted among them today. I hope to continue their legacy of inspiration, and spur on the next generation of minority leaders to step up and change the world.”
Over the past decade, Colbert and Boeing have worked with students, faculty and administrators to support and empower underserved and minority populations. Since 2018, Boeing has invested more than $10 million in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) partnerships and developed programs that have increased HBCU intern hiring by more than 400%.
Colbert will be honored as the organization’s 36th recipient, and Boeing’s 3rd recipient, of the Black Engineer of the Year Award at the 36th annual BEYA STEM Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 2022.