Seattle, WA
Boeing's new CEO already seems to have given a major indication of where his priorities lie
The Seattle Times first reported that Ortberg has chosen to be based in Seattle, where Boeing was founded in 1916, and where it had its headquarters for over 80 years.
Both Reuters and industry publication The Air Current also reported that Ortberg plans to move to Seattle.
It’s an early sign that the former boss of Rockwell Collins will prioritize production quality over financial performance — a much-needed shift, especially in the wake of the Alaska Airlines blowout.
Boeing moved its headquarters from Seattle to Chicago in 2001 and then to Virginia in 2022. Most of its commercial planes are still manufactured in Washington state, with another facility in South Carolina.
In February, a Federal Aviation Administration investigation found “a disconnect between Boeing’s senior management and other members of the organization on safety culture.”
Later that month, The Seattle Times reported that Boeing’s board shut down a shareholder’s bid to move its headquarters back to Seattle.
When he takes over next Thursday, Ortberg will also have to contend with supply-chain disruption and certification delays for new jets like the 777X.
Boeing declined to comment when asked by Business Insider about Ortberg’s plans.
REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson
“It’s a good first step that the CEO will be based in Seattle, and now the rest of the headquarters needs to move back home to rejoin our world-class aviation workforce,” Maria Cantwell, a Washington senator who chairs the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said in a Wednesday statement.
“When it comes to quality and safety, being close to the workforce on the ground matters,” she added.
Outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun last year faced criticism from employees after commuting to Boeing’s HQ by private jet, The Wall Street Journal reported. He was rarely seen in the office despite a crackdown on remote working, the report added.
After Calhoun announced his resignation in March, he acknowledged that Boeing has a “bad habit” of being too focused on speed at the expense of quality.
Airline bosses like Emirates’ Tim Clark had called on Boeing to appoint a new CEO with an engineering background.
Calhoun is an accounting graduate and former head of portfolio operations at Blackstone, whereas Ortberg has a mechanical engineering degree and over 35 years of experience in aerospace.
Courtesy of Boeing
“He knows full well that we’re in a recovery mode, and he knows full well we’ve got to complete the recovery mode, and we’ve got to get to stable and move forward,” Calhoun said of his successor in a Wednesday call related to the company’s second-quarter earnings.
“But I don’t think this is intended to be a large leadership overhaul,” he added.
The reports that Ortberg will be based in Seattle instead suggest a considerable change of tack.
Wall Street reacted positively to Ortberg’s appointment. Despite Boeing’s second-quarter earnings being lower than expected, the company’s stock rose 2% on Wednesday.
“We think Ortberg is a good pick, as his experience leading Rockwell Collins before and during its integration into RTX offer the qualities we think Boeing most needs going forward in a leader,” Nicolas Owens, an equity analyst at Morningstar, said in a note.
Ortberg has an “appreciation for the aerospace engineering and manufacturing process plus the ability to incentivize and foster continuous problem solving and collaboration on the shop floor,” Owens said
Even one of the planemaker’s biggest critics is on board with Ortberg, too.
“While this man is an industry insider, he does come from outside of Boeing and, on the face of it, has a well-regarded reputation in the industry,” said Bob Clifford, an attorney representing the families of 737 Max crash victims.
“Maybe he can bring the company back to the stature it once held before it criminally and preventively killed 346 people,” he added.
Seattle News Weekly S1E44: FIFA Frenzy hits the PNW
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is off and running as Seattle prepares to host the United States vs. Australia match on Friday. With more matches to be played in the Emerald City after that, FOX 13’s David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane are taking a closer look at the biggest stories surrounding the international tournament. Dan is hearing from fans on Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision to turn on CCTV cameras during the World Cup, Austin is taking a deeper dive into why ties are a good thing in the group stage, and David revisits the lessons learned from the first match hosted in Seattle between Egypt and Belgium.
SEATTLE – The FIFA World Cup has taken Seattle by storm, bringing global excitement to our city and visitors from across the world.
On this week’s episode of the ‘Seattle News Weekly’ podcast, David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane discuss the top headlines of the week that have emerged alongside the buzz about the FIFA World Cup 2026.
A Massive Tournament Expansion
The hosts open the podcast with a discussion on how historically large this year’s FIFA World Cup is compared to years past. Expanded to 48 teams (up from 32), the tournament features a record 104 matches over 39 days across 16 host cities. Seattle is hosting six of those matches.
Austin explains the value of “ties” in the group stage—especially with the new format where 32 teams advance to the knockout stage instead of 16—meaning a single point from a tie carries significant weight.
At the time of recording, the US had already defeated Paraguay and is preparing to face Australia at “Seattle Stadium,” where a win would guarantee advancement.
Transit Tactics
Dan Griffin reports on the city’s transit system, noting that while the light rail is moving a massive influx of people smoothly, transit authorities are actively “throttling” passengers.
This practice involves controlling crowd flow onto platforms to ensure safety, which has caused wait times of over an hour for some fans on TikTok. Transit officials recommend that fans walk to stations slightly further away from the stadium district to get moving faster.
The CCTV Security Debate
The hosts talk about how security is a major focal point. The FBI has already had to confiscate drones being flown illegally downtown. More prominently, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson activated controversial closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the Stadium District following “general but credible threats” identified by law enforcement.
While an activist group called Community, Not Cameras expressed fears that the surveillance puts vulnerable populations at risk due to federal agency presence, visitors and fans interviewed largely welcomed the extra layer of security. The cameras are expected to be turned off after the World Cup concludes.
Cultural Celebrations and Fan Experiences
The hosts play a clip from reporter Lauren Donovan who provides a colorful look at the fan festivities happening in the city. She highlights the “March to the Match,” describing Monday morning where Belgian fans swarmed Victory Hall alongside middle school band directors from the Stanwood-Camano district who were recruited to drum for them.
She also joins celebrating Egyptian fans, whose match against Belgium ended in an enthusiastic tie. The hosts note that international fans (like those from Australia) are already flooding local attractions, including Seattle Mariners baseball games, turning the sporting event into a broader West Coast vacation.
Seattle News Weekly is a podcast that goes in depth and gives context to the stories that matter to the western Washington community. Check back every Thursday for a new episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Audible or YouTube.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
USA players want to lay off the ‘Layup’ chatter ahead of Australia matchup
How Seattle is preparing for USMNT vs. Australia World Cup match on Juneteenth
FIFA World Cup billboards in Seattle spark sexual health conversations
Seattle’s Ballard to host Pride celebration, FIFA watch party on June 26
Seattle reviews FIFA World Cup 2026 transit options after post-match congestion
Egypt’s World Cup pride, Mohamed Salah’s legacy and one fan’s love for the Pharaohs
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Mariners’ electric right-hander could not have rebounded in a more emphatic way.
World Cup fans land in Seattle for first Belgium-Egypt game
Fans from around the globe arrived in Seattle for the FIFA World Cup matchup between Belgium and Egypt Monday, June 15 — the first of six games to be played at the downtown Seattle Stadium.
Seattle’s World Cup party on the waterfront just got a little bit bigger.
On the eve of the next USMNT game (U.S. vs. Australia, June 19 at 12 p.m. PT), Fox will be broadcasting live from Pier 62 in Seattle, according to a social media post.
Fans will have a number of options when it comes to watching the US take on Australia in their second group stage match, including from a floating barge, a 70-foot screen and a number of bars across the city.
Former Sounder Clint Dempsey, former USMNT player Alexi Lalas, Rob Stone and Stu Holden will broadcast live from downtown Seattle from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where can you watch the broadcast online?
FOX ONE will be streaming the broadcast online at www.fox.com.
What other World Cup games are happening Thursday?
- 9:00 A.M. – Czechia vs South Africa (Group A) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
- 12:00 P.M. – Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
- 3:00 P.M. – Canada vs Qatar (Group B) at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia
- 6:00 P.M. – Mexico vs South Korea (Group A) at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Jalisco
Full USMNT 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule
Game 2: USMNT vs. Australia
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Date: June 19, 2026
- Kickoff: 12 p.m. PT
- TV: FOX, Telemundo
- Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock
Game 3: USMNT vs. Turkey
- Location: Inglewood, California
- Date: June 25, 2026
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT
- TV: FOX, Telemundo
- Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock
Full World Cup 2026 schedule
- Group stage: June 11-27
- Round of 32: June 28-July 3
- Round of 16: July 4-7
- Quarterfinals: July 9-11
- Semifinals: July 14-15
- Third-place game: July 18
- Final: July 19
Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network’s Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.
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