Mark Cherry is vice president and general manager of Vertical Lift in Boeing Defense, Space & Security. In addition to this role, Cherry is also the Boeing Philadelphia site senior executive. Cherry is responsible for a portfolio of rotorcraft capabilities and aircraft that includes the AH-6 Little Bird, AH-64 Apache, H-47 Chinook, MH-139 Grey Wolf, V-22 Osprey and future vertical lift solutions such as DEFIANT X. He is responsible for program execution, customer satisfaction and business growth, overseeing operations in Arizona and Pennsylvania while serving and supporting customers in the United States and more than 20 countries.

Cherry was previously vice president and general manager of the Phantom Works division in Defense, Space & Security. He oversaw an advanced research and development organization that is responsible for engaging customers through cutting-edge visual modeling and simulation, innovating cross-cutting concepts and technologies, prototyping solutions to extend current products and win new programs, and developing new businesses and entering new markets.

Cherry joined the company in November 2017 from Aurora Flight Sciences, where he served as president and chief operating officer for five years. He was involved in the development of autonomous systems that include perception, machine learning and advanced flight-control systems.

Cherry has more than 20 years of aerospace leadership experience working on leading-edge technologies at several organizations, including United Technologies, Teradyne Inc. and Boston Consulting Group.

Cherry is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in engineering mechanics. Cherry has a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University and Master of Science in systems and aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology.