2011 International Study Mission to the United Kingdom

Laura J. Peterson
Vice President, State and Local Government Relations, NW Region
The Boeing Company

Laura J. Peterson was named vice president for State & Local Government Operations in August 2010. She is responsible for the company’s government relations strategy and network in the Northwest Region, and leads a team of specialists who leverage political relationships at all levels to advance Boeing business objectives.

Prior to this assignment, she was the vice president of Business Development and Global Strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, a position to which she was named in September, 2007. In this capacity, she was responsible for managing Boeing commercial business partnerships and industry relationships throughout the world.

Prior to her Business Development position, Peterson was vice president – Boeing International, with responsibility for the coordination of activities and strategy integration between Boeing International and Boeing Commercial Airplanes, including the implementation of globalization initiatives.

Before joining Boeing International, Peterson was a program director for Homeland Security and Services/Airport Security Programs. Airport Security Programs is a Boeing program, which was tasked by the U.S. Congress following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, to implement checked-baggage screening at U.S. airports by Dec. 31, 2002. The program was successfully completed on schedule and met the congressional mandate.

She joined The Boeing Company in 1994 and has held a number of executive positions, including sales director for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. In that assignment, Peterson was responsible for representation and support of key customers representing approximately $10 billion in new airplane sales and led the development of sales strategy as well as ongoing customer support. Peterson earned an MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and has a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University.