WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) announced today that it has appointed John D. Harris II vice president of Business Development and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon International, Inc., effective immediately. Harris succeeds Thomas M. Culligan, who has announced plans to retire from Raytheon, effective December 31. Culligan will serve as a senior advisor to the company during the interim period prior to his retirement.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130916/NE80454-a )   
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130916/NE80454-b )

"As our company continues to expand internationally into both new and existing markets, our business development and international operations are at the center of our global growth strategy," said William H. Swanson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon. "John's appointment comes at a time of great opportunity for the company. His 30 years with the company provides a strong foundation of business, customer and product knowledge to lead this part of our organization forward."

Harris joined Raytheon in 1983. Throughout his career, he has held positions of increasing responsibility with the company, including vice president of Operations and Contracts for Raytheon's former Electronic Systems business, vice president of Contracts for the company's government and defense businesses, and vice president of Contracts and Supply Chain for Raytheon Company. In 2010, he was named president of Raytheon Technical Services Company (RTSC). Harris most recently served as general manager of Raytheon's newly formed Intelligence, Information and Services business, where he was responsible for the consolidation of the former RTSC with Raytheon's Intelligence and Information Systems business.

In his new role, Harris will be responsible for worldwide sales and marketing, Raytheon's international business and its government relations operations functions. He will also have responsibility for developing and leading the execution of Raytheon's global business strategy.

Harris serves on the RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee, the Board of the USO of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and he is a member of the Council of Trustees for the Association of the United States Army. He served as Raytheon's Executive Diversity Champion in 2007-2008, leading the Executive Diversity Leadership Team and providing strategic direction for the company's overall diversity and inclusion efforts. In February of 2010, Harris was honored with the prestigious Black Engineer of the Year Award.

Harris received his bachelor of science degree in business administration from Boston University. He will be based in Rosslyn, Va.

Thomas M. Culligan to Retire from Raytheon   
Harris succeeds Thomas M. Culligan, who has announced plans to retire from the company at the end of the year.

"Tom's illustrious career has spanned from the U.S. Air Force to the halls of Congress, and from the corridors of the aerospace and defense industry to the offices of customers in more than 80 countries around the world, where he has been a recognized leader and trusted advisor to all," said Swanson. "I sincerely thank him for more than a decade of service to our company and for his unrelenting focus on our customers' success. He is a valued friend and mentor to many – both within Raytheon and outside the company. We will miss him and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement."

Culligan joined Raytheon as senior vice president of Business Development and CEO of Raytheon International, Inc., in March 2001, from Honeywell International Inc. At Honeywell, Culligan served as vice president and general manager of Defense and Space, where he had worldwide responsibility for all related sales, marketing and government relations activities. Previously, Culligan was vice president and general manager of the company's aerospace operations in Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. He has held executive positions at AlliedSignal and McDonnell Douglas, including corporate vice president of Program Development, Marketing and Strategy, and vice president of Government Affairs. Prior to that, Culligan was legislative director for Florida congressman Earl Hutto and chief of staff for Florida's secretary of state. He served in the U.S. Air Force after receiving his ROTC commission. 

Culligan earned a bachelor's degree in government and a master's degree in public administration at Florida State University. He currently serves on a number of local charitable boards in the metro-D.C. area, where he and his wife reside.

About Raytheon  
Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

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SOURCE Raytheon Company