When people search for “Leanne Caret and Larry Culp,” they are usually trying to understand how two well-known business leaders compare. Both built long careers in the aviation and defense world, and both are known for turning large, complex organizations into sharper and more focused ones. They worked at different companies, though, and their paths took very different shapes. This article explains who each leader is, what each has achieved, how their leadership styles differ, and why their names often appear together in searches about aerospace leadership.
Are Leanne Caret and Larry Culp Connected?
The most common question is whether the two work together. Based on public company filings, official biographies, and press releases, there is no known business partnership between them. Leanne Caret spent her main career at Boeing and now serves on corporate and university boards. Larry Culp leads GE Aerospace as chairman and chief executive officer.
Their names are linked mostly because both are major figures in the same industry. Boeing and GE Aerospace are closely tied through the commercial aircraft business, since GE engines power many of the world’s jets. People who follow aviation leadership naturally read about both executives, and that is likely why the two names appear together in searches.
Who Is Leanne Caret?
Leanne Caret was born on 18 November 1966 and built her career at Boeing, where she spent about 34 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kansas State University and later completed an MBA at Wichita State University. She also took executive leadership programs at Harvard University and the University of Notre Dame.
Over her years at Boeing, Caret worked in finance, operations, and program management. She served as chief financial officer of the Defense, Space and Security business, led the H-47 helicopter programs, ran the Vertical Lift business, and later headed the company’s Global Services and Support organization. In 2016 she became president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, one of the company’s largest divisions. In that role she managed a budget of about $30 billion and oversaw roughly 30,000 employees. She retired from that position in 2022 and stayed on for a time as an executive vice president and senior advisor to the company.
Recognition and Honors Earned by Leanne Caret
Caret’s work has earned wide recognition. Fortune magazine named her to its Most Powerful Women list for five years in a row, through 2021. In 2019 she was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. She is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
In 2022, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University gave her an honorary doctorate. Her ties to education run deeper than that, since she has served as an executive-in-residence at both Kansas State University and Embry-Riddle, where she mentors students who hope to lead in business and technology.
Leanne Caret’s Life After Boeing
Since leaving her operating role, Caret has become a sought-after board member. Deere & Company elected her to its board of directors on 1 November 2021. Raytheon Technologies, now known as RTX, elected her on 16 January 2023 and placed her on its Audit Committee. She later chaired the audit committee at both companies, according to Embry-Riddle’s announcement of her appointment as a trustee.
She is also a senior advisor to the investment firm Blackstone and to MyNextSeason, a company that offers coaching to senior executives. In March 2024, Embry-Riddle confirmed her as a member of its Board of Trustees. She serves on the boards of the Kansas State University Foundation and the USO as well.
Leanne Caret’s Leadership Philosophy
Caret is known for a simple approach to leadership that she calls “The 4 G’s”: grit, gumption, grace, and gratitude. The idea is that teams do their best work when they are tough enough to push through challenges, bold enough to try new things, kind to each other, and thankful for the people around them. She often speaks about paying it forward, meaning that successful leaders should guide the next generation, and her mentoring work reflects that belief.
Who Is Larry Culp?
H. Lawrence “Larry” Culp Jr. is the chairman and chief executive officer of GE Aerospace. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington College, where he later became chair of the Board of Visitors and Governors, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2026, Harvard Business School gave him its highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, for his impact on business and society.
Before GE, Culp spent roughly 25 years at Danaher Corporation. He joined in 1990 at a subsidiary called Veeder-Root, became its president in 1993, and later served as Danaher’s chief executive officer until 2014. During that period the company’s revenue and market value both grew about fivefold. Harvard Business Review named him one of the top 50 chief executives in the world. After leaving Danaher, he taught leadership and general management as a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School.
Larry Culp’s Turnaround at GE
Culp joined the GE board in April 2018 and became chief executive in October of that year. He was the first person from outside the company ever to lead GE, which made the appointment a major event in the business world.
GE was dealing with heavy debt and a sprawling mix of businesses. Under Culp, the company cut its debt by more than $100 billion and sold several large operations, including GE Capital Aviation Services, BioPharma, Lighting, and Transportation. He also adopted a lean operating approach that focuses on safety, quality, delivery, and cost, in that order.
The biggest change came when GE split into three independent public companies. GE HealthCare separated in January 2023, and GE Vernova followed in April 2024, leaving GE Aerospace as the original company’s remaining public entity. Culp became chairman and chief executive of GE Aerospace and also serves as non-executive chairman of GE HealthCare.
GE Aerospace Under Larry Culp Today
GE Aerospace builds engines and provides services for commercial and military aircraft. The company has about 57,000 employees and an installed base of roughly 80,000 aircraft engines, about 50,000 commercial and 30,000 military. Its operating model, called Flight Deck, applies lean principles to continuously improve operations for customers.
Recent results have been strong. In the second quarter of 2026, the company reported adjusted revenue and earnings per share both up more than 20 percent, driven by growth in commercial services, and it raised its full-year guidance. The board has also backed Culp’s long-term role. It approved a new employment agreement in 2024 that keeps him in his position until at least the end of 2027, with provisions that could extend it through 2028. In September 2026, the board named Wes Bush as independent lead director, replacing Tom Horton, who remains on the board.
Leadership Style: How the Two Leaders Compare
Both leaders believe in discipline, strong operations, and developing people, but they show it in different ways. Caret came up through one company and rose by mastering finance, programs, and large divisions inside Boeing. Her public message centers on character and mentorship. Culp built his reputation by turning around businesses, first at Danaher and then at GE, and his public message centers on lean methods and steady improvement.
Culp has said publicly that lean should be introduced by exposing people to the tools rather than forcing them on staff, and that learning from failure is part of the process. That philosophy matches Caret’s focus on teaching, trust, and gratitude. Both leaders treat people as the foundation of performance.
Education and Giving Back
Education plays a large part in both careers. Caret serves Embry-Riddle and Kansas State University, while Culp serves Washington College and the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees. Each has spent time guiding students and future leaders, which suggests that both see leadership as something to be taught as well as practiced.
Why Their Stories Matter
The careers of Caret and Culp show two common routes to the top of a major company. One leader grew inside a single organization for more than three decades, and the other was brought in from outside to repair and reshape a giant. Both made it to the top of the aerospace world and continue to influence how companies in the industry are led. For readers who follow business, aviation, or leadership, their stories offer practical lessons about focus, discipline, and respect for people. You can find more profiles of influential leaders at YBR Magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Leanne Caret and Larry Culp work at the same company?
No. Caret is a former Boeing executive who now serves on boards, and Culp is chairman and chief executive of GE Aerospace.
What is Leanne Caret known for?
She is known for leading Boeing Defense, Space and Security, for her repeated place on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list, and for her “4 G’s” leadership philosophy.
What is Larry Culp known for?
He is known for leading GE’s turnaround, cutting its debt by more than $100 billion, and guiding its split into GE HealthCare, GE Vernova, and GE Aerospace.
Is Larry Culp still the CEO of GE Aerospace?
Yes. He is chairman and chief executive, and his current agreement runs until at least the end of 2027.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on publicly available company announcements, official biographies, and regulatory filings available at the time of writing. Roles, titles, and company details can change over time. Readers should check official company websites or recent news for the latest information. This article does not provide financial, investment, or legal advice and does not claim any personal or business relationship between the two individuals beyond what is stated.
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I’m Muhammad Ubaid, founder of YBR Magazine. I research and write detailed guides on America’s National Parks — covering entry fees, permits, best times to visit, and planning tips — using official NPS sources and up-to-date information.
