Scott Fancher was named vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program in December 2008. Fancher is responsible for all aspects of the airplane program, which will bring new possibilities for safe, efficient and economical point-to point travel for the world’s airlines and passengers.
Previously, Fancher was vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems, from October 2007. Missile Defense Systems provides integrated missile defense solutions for all phases of ballistic missile threats and develops advanced directed energy technologies and systems.
Fancher has held many executive leadership positions in engineering and program management during more than 25 years with Boeing. His experience includes technology development, design, product development, manufacturing and flight test of aircraft and spacecraft systems.
Between October 2005 and October 2007, Fancher was vice president and program director for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program, where he oversaw the development and deployment of this highly complex system.
Beginning in November 2001, Fancher led the Airborne Laser program as vice president and program director and in March 2005 was named vice president for the Airborne Laser and Laser/Electro-optics. During Fancher’s tenure on the program, the Airborne Laser aircraft, a heavily modified 747-400 Freighter, completed its design phase and made several key “first” flights. His responsibilities included execution of the program and development of high-energy, laser-based directed energy systems and concepts.
From 1998 through 2001, Fancher was program director for Special Projects, where he had overall program management responsibility for a complex airborne reconnaissance system. Fancher originally joined the program in 1995 as its chief engineer and led the program through design, development and flight test.
Between 1992 and early 1995, Fancher served as deputy for F/A-18 Avionics Weapon Systems. In this assignment, he was a member of a management team that was responsible for all avionics weapon system hardware, software and integration on the F/A-18C/D/E/F aircraft.
From 1989 to1992, Fancher held increasingly responsible positions in systems engineering and advanced design and analysis for aircraft and spacecraft communications systems.
Fancher earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and a master of science degree in electrical engineering from Washington University. He also earned a master of business administration from Washington University’s Executive MBA program.
Fancher also has served in a company-sponsored Congressional Fellowship as a legislative assistant to former U.S. Senator John Glenn. This program, administered by the Brookings Institution, is designed to give private-industry executives insight into the federal legislative process.