Boeing Appoints New Starliner Chief Amid Program Setbacks
Boeing has named John Mulholland as the new head of its Starliner program, replacing Mark Nappi. With Starliner facing propulsion issues and delays, NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate its future missions.
Boeing has appointed John Mulholland as the new head of its Starliner spacecraft program, replacing Mark Nappi, who led the program since 2022. Nappi is now focused on streamlining improvements across Boeing’s space programs before his planned retirement next month.
Mulholland, who previously led the Starliner program from 2011 to 2020 before moving to Boeing’s International Space Station (ISS) program, returns at a critical time. The Starliner, developed under a $4.5 billion NASA contract, has faced multiple engineering setbacks, including propulsion system issues that led to NASA’s decision to send its astronauts back on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon instead.
As investigations continue, Boeing and NASA have yet to determine the next steps for Starliner, including whether another crewed flight test will be required before certification for routine missions. The challenges faced by Starliner highlight Boeing’s struggles in the competitive private spaceflight industry, where SpaceX has gained dominance.
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