L-3 renews commitment to Madison unit, ending closing rumors

Published 3:00 pm Friday, November 20, 2015

MADISON, Miss. (AP) — L-3 Communications is re-establishing a division headquarters in Madison and naming a longtime Mississippian to lead it.

Thursday’s announcement dispels uncertainty that New York-based L-3 would close the Madison office, which overhauls and distributes parts for military aircraft and ground vehicles.

John “Ed” Boyington Jr. is becoming president of L-3 Logistics Solutions. A previous executive had moved the unit’s headquarters to Rockwall, Texas. L-3 Logistics Solutions oversees operations which include 7,000 of L-3’s 45,000 worldwide employees.

“It certainly shows a commitment to Mississippi,” said spokesman Lance Martin.

About 280 employees work at the Madison office, and Martin said Boyington will seek to expand the Mississippi location.

Boyington worked for L-3 from 2003 to 2009, including serving as president of L-3 Vertex Aerospace in Madison. A retired rear admiral, Boyington later became CEO of Ridgeland-based Tenax Aerospace.

State officials and congressional representatives had met with L-3 to encourage the company to stay. In a news release, congressional Republicans and Gov. Phil Bryant said L-3 would “add a significant number of new skilled jobs to its Madison office and grow operations in the state as market conditions improve.”

L-3 and many other defense contractors are struggling in the face of budget constraints.

“The decision by L-3 to focus its Logistics Solutions business in Madison is another vote of confidence in Mississippi’s growing high-tech industry,” U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., said in a statement. “I appreciate the company’s willingness to engage with local, state and federal officials on its future in Madison County. We want to ensure that our state’s productive partnership with L-3 only grows stronger.”

Martin said the company has not accepted any state or local incentives to maintain or expand operations.