{"id":32588,"date":"2021-03-10T05:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-10T05:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/03\/10\/gm-defense-has-a-new-chief-engineer\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:41:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:41:32","slug":"gm-defense-has-a-new-chief-engineer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2021\/03\/10\/gm-defense-has-a-new-chief-engineer\/","title":{"rendered":"GM Defense has a new chief engineer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 GM Defense<\/a> has brought on Rick Kewley as its new executive chief engineer, who will be in charge of all engineering and program execution at the General Motors subsidiary, according to a March 10 company statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kewley has a long history at GM \u2014 a 27-year career \u2014 and most recently served as GM\u2019s executive director of Global Product Development Quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other roles at GM include executive director for Vehicle and Propulsion Systems Engineering, director of Fuel Systems and Chassis Advanced Vehicle Development and director of Chassis and Powertrain Integration in Shanghai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kewley is a 1989 West Point graduate and served as a U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His background will help build GM Defense\u2019s \u201ccore capabilities,\u201d the company said, including integrated vehicles, power and propulsion, mobility and autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRick\u2019s ability to bridge GM\u2019s best-in-class commercial capabilities with GM Defense\u2019s mission to influence the future of military mobility is the perfect complement,\u201d Tim Herrick, interim president of GM Defense, said in the statement. \u201cRick is a proven leader, bringing a deep understanding of complex vehicle system integration and critical technical acumen. He will be an asset to our growing team and a trusted partner to our military and government customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kewley comes in at a time where GM Defense is looking at making big plays in modernization efforts across the services, but it specifically has its eye on such programs as the U.S. Army\u2019s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle<\/a>, intended to replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GM Defense also recently won a big contract to supply Infantry Squad Vehicles<\/a> to the Army. Kewley will pick up the mantle on that program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t