Boeing Defense Headquarters Moving Back to St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — The Boeing Co.'s defense, space and security division headquarters is moving back to St. Louis, the company said in a news release Wednesday.

The division operated out of St. Louis from 1997 to 2017 when Boeing moved the defense headquarters to Arlington, Virginia.

The relocation is effective as of Wednesday, and there is not a specific number of jobs associated with the move, according to a company spokesperson.

Steve Parker, CEO for Boeing's defense, space and security division, said in a statement that "it's important for leaders to be side-by-side with our teammates, listening to their feedback and acting to remove obstacles as we continue to stabilize and strengthen our business.

“The headquarters move, coupled with our senior leaders being based at and spending their time at major engineering, production and manufacturing centers across the U.S., reflects our continued focus on disciplined performance across our business," Parker said.

The defense headquarters' previous move to the Washington, D.C., area, announced in late 2016, reflected the aerospace giant's desire to be closer to the levers of power in the nation’s capital. The company expected about 50 positions to eventually relocate to the Virginia headquarters.

Boeing said Wednesday it employs 18,000+ workers in St. Louis.

U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., cheered the news. "This announcement helps to reinforce the great work we’re doing right here in the Show Me State to build a defense tech hub that attracts businesses, innovation and good-paying jobs to our state," he said in a statement.

Ron Kitchens, managing partner for Greater St. Louis Inc., called the relocation a "huge win for St. Louis."

It "solidifies our standing as a national hub for defense technology and aerospace and recognizes our strength as an advanced manufacturing center,” Kitchens said in a statement.

Boeing has local production sites in St. Louis County, St. Charles and Mascoutah. Locally made products include the F-15 and F-18 fighter jets, T-7A trainer and MQ-25 refueling drone, as well as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs.

Last year, Boeing was awarded a $20 billion contract to build the Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet, the F-47.

Boeing hasn't said how much of that work will be completed in St. Louis, but the decision was expected to secure St. Louis’ place in the defense aviation industry for decades to come.

Boeing officials announced in July 2023 that the company would build an advanced manufacturing site in North County, part of the company’s $1.8 billion expansion project at its complex at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

The announcement came hours before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was to address St. Louis Boeing workers as part of the defense chief's nationwide "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, which Boeing described as "a call to action to revitalize America's manufacturing might and re-energize the nation's workforce."

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