Head of Boeing Defense, Space and Security leaving company

Ted Colbert, the president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS), will be leaving the beleaguered company, Boeing announced Friday.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told employees in a letter that the company's priority "is to restore the trust of our customers and meet the high standards they expect of us to enable their critical missions around the world."

"I want to thank Ted for his 15 years of service at The Boeing Company, supporting our customers, our people and our communities," he said in the letter.

Steve Parker will oversee BDS until a permanent replacement is found, according to Ortberg.

The company has endured tremendous financial pressures and extra scrutiny following a series of failures involving its aircraft and supply.

On Jan. 5, a door plug blew out of the company's 737 Max 9 aircraft at around 15,000 feet in altitude during an Alaska Airlines flight, prompting a federal investigation.

Boeing Starliner, a spacecraft that was being developed for NASA Commercial Crew Program, was hit with several delays and rising costs before its first crewed launch to the International Space Station in June.

However the spacecraft was forced to return without its astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams earlier this month after tests showed there was too much risk with regard to the vehicle's thrusters for re-entry.

The astronauts are scheduled to return next year aboard another craft, extending their stay at the ISS by several months.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and board chairman Larry Kellner both announced their resignations in light of the investigations.

Last week, tens of thousands of Boeing workers voted to strike after rejecting the proposed contract.