SPEAKER BIO

Lisa Atherton

Lisa Atherton became president and chief executive officer of Textron, and a member of its board of directors on January 4, 2026.

She most recently served as president and CEO of Bell from 2023 through 2025, previously serving as its chief operating officer. From 2017 through 2022, she was president and CEO of Textron Systems. Atherton joined Textron in 2007.

Before her role at Textron Systems, Atherton was the executive vice president, Military Business, at Bell, responsible for providing strategic direction and overall management for all government programs and business development efforts. Prior to that role, Atherton was the vice president, Global Military Development, at Bell, leading the company’s domestic and international military business development activities. She also held several positions within Military Programs, including V-22 program manager and director of Military Programs. Prior to joining Bell, Atherton was the vice president, Area Attack, at Textron Systems, and served as the vice president, Business Development.

Before her career with Textron, Atherton spent eight years at Air Combat Command’s Directorate of Requirements, helping to shape the budget and operational requirements and needs for the Combat Air Forces and was a contracting officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Atherton currently serves on the Board of Directors for Southwest Airlines Co. and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA). Atherton earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary and a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She is a Presidential Leadership Scholar and has also completed Textron’s Senior Executive Leadership Programs at the Thunderbird School of Global Management as well as Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.