Who was the CEO of Boeing when the 787 Dreamliner first flew in December 2009?

Jim McNerney was Boeing’s CEO when the 787 Dreamliner made its first flight on December 15, 2009.

McNerney became Boeing’s chairman, president and CEO in 2005, succeeding Harry Stonecipher. He remained the company’s top executive throughout the 787’s delayed development and maiden flight. The aircraft took off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:27 a.m. local time and completed an approximately three-hour test flight before landing at Boeing Field.

The Dreamliner program had originally targeted an earlier entry into service, but supply-chain problems, incomplete work and structural concerns repeatedly delayed the schedule. Boeing had unveiled the first 787 prototype in 2007, and the eventual first flight marked the beginning of an extensive flight-test program.

The 787 later entered commercial service with All Nippon Airways in October 2011. Dennis Muilenburg is a frequent distractor because he was a Boeing executive during the program and later became CEO, but he did not take over the corporate CEO position until 2015. Phil Condit and Harry Stonecipher had left the role earlier.