Boeing's project role worries Pentagon

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- Boeing has given two of its defense executives access to secret information involving a major program, a report said Monday.

The move has sparked concern in the Pentagon and among its competitors, the Wall Street Journal reported. James Albaugh, chief executive of Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems division, and Roger Krone, a senior vice president in charge of Army programs, were brought inside the so-called firewall on the Future Combat System program.

That bothers Boeing's competitors and senior Army officials, the Journal said. They worry that, by giving Albaugh and Krone such access, Boeing could gain an unfair advantage on the work it bids for. Even Boeing officials working on the Army program expressed concern with the appearance of the situation.

Concerns about Boeing's role come against recent allegations the Chicago-based aerospace titan on at least two occasions inappropriately obtained a rival's information while competing for major military contracts.