Former chief of staff Jumper new CEO at SAIC - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Former chief of staff Jumper new CEO at SAIC

Retired Air Force Gen. John Jumper, who spent four years as the service’s chief of staff, will take the reins at SAIC beginning in March, the company announced Tuesday.

Jumper, Air Force chief of staff from 2001-05, will succeed Walt Havenstein, who announced his impending retirement in October after two years as CEO.

A former fighter pilot who served tours over Southeast Asia, Jumper joined the SAIC board of directors in 2007.

While it is common for former high ranking uniformed officers to join the boards of defense companies, it is uncommon for top military officials to take CEO jobs at prime defense contractors.

Jumper is not alone among current CEOs, however, joining retired Adm. Jay Johnson, former chief of naval operations, who leads General Dynamics.