Washington, D.C. — GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors, has appointed Rick Kewley executive chief engineer. Kewley will lead all aspects of engineering and program execution, leveraging the company’s core capabilities in integrated vehicles, power and propulsion, mobility and autonomy to meet customer requirements for existing and future pursuit opportunities.
Kewley, a United States Military Academy graduate and former U.S. Army officer, brings 27 years of GM engineering and product development experience to GM Defense. He most recently served as executive director of GM Global Product Development Quality, where he championed engineering and product development quality strategies, strengthening customer satisfaction and reliability results across GM’s global vehicle portfolio.
“Rick’s ability to bridge GM’s best-in-class commercial capabilities with GM Defense’s mission to influence the future of military mobility is the perfect complement,” said Tim Herrick, interim president of GM Defense. “Rick is a proven leader, bringing a deep understanding of complex vehicle system integration and critical technical acumen. He will be an asset to our growing team and a trusted partner to our military and government customers.”
“I’m honored to lead product development efforts at GM Defense and am convinced that GM’s proven product and manufacturing capabilities offer an unmistakable advantage to the warfighter,” Kewley said. “As an Army veteran myself, I understand the value that technology and cutting-edge capability can offer to our military and government customers alike.”
Kewley’s engineering organization will continue execution of the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). The expeditionary ISV is a light and agile all-terrain troop carrier intended to transport a nine-Soldier infantry squad and their equipment throughout the battlefield. GM Defense was awarded the contract in June 2020.
GM Defense LLC delivers integrated vehicles, power & propulsion, and mobility & autonomy solutions to global defense, security, and government markets. The exceptional reliability of GM Defense’s technologies results from decades of proven performance and billions of dollars spent in independent research and development by its parent, General Motors, a world leader in global design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
