Lisa Atherton is the president and chief executive officer of Bell, and a member of Textron’s Corporate Leadership Team. She leads a multibillion-dollar business that provides innovative products for defense and commercial customers across the globe.

 

Atherton most recently served as the chief operating officer of Bell. In 2017, she was named the president and chief executive officer of Textron Systems. Textron Systems’ businesses provide innovative solutions to the defense, aerospace and general aviation markets.

 

Atherton joined Textron Systems after five years with Bell. During her time at Bell, she was the executive vice president, Military Business, where she was responsible for providing strategic direction and overall management for all government programs and business development efforts. Prior to that role, Atherton was the vice president, Global Military Development, where she led the company’s domestic and international military business development activities. She also held several other positions within Military Programs, including V-22 program manager and director of Military Programs. Prior to joining Bell, Atherton was the vice president of Area Attack at Textron Systems, where she also served as the vice president of Business Development.

 

Before her career with Textron, Atherton spent eight years at Air Combat Command’s Directorate of Requirements, helping to shape the budget and operational requirements and needs for the Combat Air Forces and was a contracting officer in the U.S. Air Force.

 

Atherton currently serves on the Board of Directors for Southwest Airlines Co., the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC), Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA). Atherton earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary and a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She is a Presidential Leadership Scholar and has also completed Textron’s Senior Executive Leadership Programs at the Thunderbird School of Global Management as well as Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.