Linda Hudson assumed the leadership of BAE Systems Land & Armaments Operating Group on January 2, 2007 with her appointment as President.
She leads the largest military vehicle business in the world with operations in South Africa, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Shortly after joining BAE Systems, she led the acquisition of Armor Holdings Inc., effectively doubling the size of the group's operations.
Prior to joining BAE Systems, she served for seven years as an officer and vice president of the General Dynamics Corporation and she was the President of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products in Charlotte, NC.
From August 1997 until May 1999, Ms. Hudson was Vice President, Business Development at General Dynamics’ corporate headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. In this position she was responsible for developing and implementing new business growth strategies across the corporation.
Ms. Hudson served as President, General Dynamics Ordnance Systems, from April 1992 through July 1997. As the chief operating officer of this wholly owned subsidiary, Ms. Hudson managed a broad range of products and operated government – owned manufacturing facilities. She led this organization while corporate ownership changed from Martin Marietta to Lockheed Martin and through its subsequent acquisition by General Dynamics.
In November 1985, Ms. Hudson joined Martin Marietta in Orlando, Florida. She held a variety of positions there including Director, Air Defense Production Operations and Program Director, Electro Optical Systems before being appointed to head the Ordnance Corporation in 1992.
Ms. Hudson began her career in 1972 at the Harris Corporation in Melbourne, Florida as a Research and Development Engineer, specializing in satellite and communication systems. She progressed to a Senior Engineering position in Reliability Design Analysis and Component Failure Analysis. In 1976 she joined Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation in Newport Beach, CA. During her tenure at Ford Aerospace she was a Reliability Engineering Manager, Division Quality Assurance Manager and Air Defense Systems Program Manager.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Ms. Hudson received her bachelor’s degree, with honors, in Systems Engineering. She remains active in the alumni and athletic associations of the University and has served on advisory boards for the College of Engineering. Ms. Hudson has been retained by the U.S. Government as an expert on industrial base issues and defense reutilization. She has received numerous awards and recognition including NDIA”s prestigious “Firepower Award” for her contributions to the defense of our country and she became the first woman to receive the National Infantry Association’s “Military Order of St. Maurice” in recognition of outstanding support of the U.S. Army Infantry. Ms. Hudson was recently described by the London Sunday Times as “the first lady of defense.”
Ms. Hudson has been active in all of the communities where she has lived. She received the Rising Star award in Burlington, VT for her public service and she was a finalist for Business Woman of the Year in Charlotte, NC recognizing her professional and community accomplishments. She currently serves on the USO Worldwide Board of Governors, the advisory board for the Women in Engineering Program at the University of Maryland and the Board of Trustees of Norwich University. She is a member of the North Carolina and DC chapters of the International Women’s Forum and she was recently invited to join C200, the premier global organization of women business leaders.
