Mary L. Howell

Mary L. Howell served as Executive Vice President for Textron Inc., from August 1995 until her retirement in December 2009.

"Howell joined Textron in 1980. In her current role, Howell is actively involved in formulating long-term global business strategies, developing business opportunities for Textron business units in growth markets overseas and establishing marketing and communications initiatives. She chairs the Customer Leadership Council, an organization of senior executives from Textron Corporate and business segment operations who develop and implement initiatives to improve the Textron enterprise's ability to focus on and meet the objectives of its government and commercial customers. She also directs the Washington, DC-based marketing and government affairs activities for Textron and its business units. The company is a leading U.S. government contractor, with sales to the Defense Department totaling over $1 billion in 2004. In addition, she oversees internal and external communication of Textron's strategy and performance to key constituencies such as investors, employees and the media.

"Howell serves on the boards of directors of both the National Association of Manufacturers and Aerospace Industries Association, two of the leading organizations representing the American manufacturing sector. She also serves on the board of directors of FM Global, the world's largest commercial and industrial property insurance and risk management organization. Howell is also a board member of the Atlantic Council of the United States, a non-partisan network of leaders committed to enhancing U.S. leadership through foreign policy projects. She was president of the Business-Government Relations Council and is a member of several other Washington-area professional organizations. Howell is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst."

• Trustee, Meridian International Center
• Advisory Board, Center for a New American Security