In honor of Native American Heritage Month and National Veterans and Military Families Month, both observed in November, Women of Color Online is recognizing past Women of Color (WOC) STEM winners who are of American Indian descent and veterans of the U.S. military.
Kathleen Jolivette actively participates in Boeing's resource groups that promote and support inclusivity.
As the vice president and general manager of Vertical Lift at Boeing, Jolivette engages with local tribes and champions employment opportunities for veterans.
She also volunteers for several organizations, including the Native American Heritage Association and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.
She earned her high school diploma while growing up on South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation and served in the Army as a supply sergeant.
Jolivette holds an undergraduate degree in finance and accounting from Lindenwood University, as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration from Washington University.
She began her career at Boeing as an intern and has since climbed the ranks through various roles, including finance, supplier management, procurement cost analysis, accounting, contracts, estimating and pricing, financial planning, program cost management, and international business development.
Jolivette led a team that delivered complete, cost-competitive service solutions for Army rotorcraft assets.
Additionally, she oversaw the design, production, and delivery of AH-64 Apache and AH-6 Little Bird helicopters for the U.S. Army and allied defense forces, achieving the remarkable milestone of delivering over 100 helicopters in 2019.
Throughout her career, Jolivette has managed teams, workgroups, functional departments, and multiple programs to achieve organizational objectives.
She has held various leadership positions, including director of U.S. Army Services for Boeing Global Services, chief of staff for the Office of the President and CEO, and director of Investor Relations for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS).
Currently, Jolivette manages a division with a revenue of $2.9 billion, overseeing a fleet of over 2,500 aircraft in 30 countries and a workforce of more than 9,000 employees.
Her portfolio includes a diverse range of rotorcraft and aircraft capabilities, such as the AH-6 Little Bird, AH-64 Apache, H-47 Chinook, MH-139A Grey Wolf, V-22 Osprey, and future vertical lift solutions like Defiant X.
She is responsible for program execution, customer satisfaction, and business growth while managing operations in Arizona and Pennsylvania, serving customers around the world.
