Executive Profile: Walt Havenstein of SAIC
By Jack Mann at 9 June, 2009, 1:31 pm
Walt Havenstein
Walter P. (Walt) Havenstein is the CEO of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Previously, he served as President and CEO of BAE Systems Inc., the wholly-owned US subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, and a board member of BAE Systems plc. effective Friday, June 26. Bill Hoover of AMERICAN Systems had this to say of Mr. Havenstein: “Walt respects all with whom he works while demanding nothing less than one’s best efforts at all times. He has served our country as a Marine officer and as a leader in our industry which is committed to serving our nation’s present day mission. SAIC, our industry and our nation are fortunate to have an individual like Walt during dynamic times like those which we face today.”
Havenstein is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, holding a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. Havenstein served in the US Marine Corps from 1971 to 1983 and continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve until 2001.
Havenstein began his career in the defense industry in ITT Corporation’s Aerospace and Communications Division. Havenstein has held executive positions at Raytheon, including vice president and general manager of the Strategic Systems Division, director of business development for the Communications Manufacturing Division, and vice president and general manager of the Surveillance and Control Division and vice president for Tactical Data Systems.
Havenstein joined BAE Systems in 2000 when the company purchased Lockheed Martin Aerospace Electronic Systems, including its Sanders subsidiary which he was president of. Aerospace Electronic Systems was renamed BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration and Havenstein was appointed president. From 2003 to 2005 Havenstein was executive vice president of BAE Systems North America. After the major reorganisation of 2005 BAE Systems North America was renamed BAE Systems Inc., and BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration was merged into the newly created BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions and Havenstein became president of the new group.
On September 12, 2006, BAE Systems announced that Mark Ronald, president and CEO of BAE Systems Inc. would retire at the end of 2006 and that he would be replaced in these roles and as a BAE Systems plc board member by Walt Havenstein effective January 2, 2007. So far, Mr. Havenstein has succeeded in protecting BAE’s $12 Billion in annual sales in the U.S.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks