Boeing has confirmed the retirement of Brewster Shaw, vice president and general manager of the Space Exploration division.

Shaw has contributed to aeronautics and astronautics with significant accomplishments as a combat pilot, flight instructor, test pilot, shuttle pilot and commander, as well as in senior leadership roles in the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) programs with NASA and Boeing.

Shaw has led all of Boeing’s civil space programs since 2006.

Under his guidance, Boeing completed the on-orbit assembly of the ISS and concluded its support of the space shuttle after 30 years of operations, ensuring the final flights were executed with the same safety, discipline and attention to detail as the first mission in 1981.

John Elbon, Space Exploration vice president and program manager of Commercial Programs, will succeed Shaw in leading the Space Exploration division.

Most recently, Elbon managed Boeing’s efforts on NASA’s Commercial Crew Space Act Agreements, including the first two phases of the Commercial Crew Development program.

He has gathered innovations and capabilities from across Boeing in the development of crew transportation systems that will support NASA and commercial customers in accessing destinations in Low Earth Orbit.

“As NASA identifies new approaches for human space exploration, Brewster has continued to influence America’s space program, ensuring the path forward for the nation’s next human spaceflight program beyond Earth’s orbit,” said Boeing Network & Space Systems president Roger Krone.

“Throughout his career with the U.S. Air Force, NASA and Boeing, Brewster has been dedicated to the nation’s national security and aerospace prominence.

Shaw’s career achievements began with the Air Force, where he logged more than 5,000 hours of flying time in more than 30 types of aircraft, including 644 hours of combat in F-100 and F-4 aircraft and 533 hours of spaceflight.

Selected as an astronaut in 1978, Shaw flew three space shuttle missions - as pilot of STS-9 in November 1983, and as commander of STS-61B in November 1985 and STS-28 in August 1989.

He played a key role in returning the shuttle to flight following the Challenger accident and led NASA’s Space Shuttle team in the 1990s.