L3Harris Technologies has appointed Sam Mehta as President and Chief Executive Officer after Christopher Kubasik stepped down as Chairman, CEO and a member of the board following an investigation into conduct that the company said was inconsistent with its values and Code of Conduct. The leadership changes are effective immediately.
Lewis Hay III, previously L3Harris’ Lead Independent Director, has also been appointed Independent Chairman of the Board.
L3Harris said Kubasik’s conduct was unrelated to the company’s financial reporting, internal controls, customer relationships or operational performance.
The board investigated the matter with assistance from independent counsel and determined that entering into a separation agreement with Kubasik was in the company’s best interests.
The company did not provide additional details regarding the conduct.
Mehta’s promotion puts an executive already responsible for the vast majority of L3Harris’ revenue in charge of the broader company.
He most recently served as President of the Space & Mission Systems and Communications & Spectrum Dominance segments.
Those two businesses account for more than 80% of L3Harris’ total revenue and deliver mission-critical technologies across space, air, land, sea and cyber domains.
In that role, Mehta was responsible for business strategy, financial performance, execution and growth across L3Harris’ largest operating segments.
He joined L3Harris in January 2023 as President of the Communication Systems segment and became President of Space & Mission Systems and Communications & Spectrum Dominance in March 2026.
Mehta has more than 25 years of strategic and operational leadership experience across aerospace and defense.
Before joining L3Harris, he served as President of Advanced Structures at Collins Aerospace, part of RTX.
Earlier, he spent more than 17 years at Sikorsky Aircraft in positions spanning general management, operations and business development.
The board described Mehta’s appointment as the result of an established succession-planning process and pointed to his familiarity with L3Harris’ operations, strategic priorities and corporate culture.
Alongside the CEO transition, L3Harris made additional changes to the leadership of the businesses Mehta previously managed.
Lauren Barnes, most recently President of Spectrum Superiority, has been appointed President of Space & Mission Systems.
Christopher Aebli, previously President of Mission Critical Communications, has been appointed President of Communications & Spectrum Dominance.
Both appointments are effective immediately.
Barnes joined L3Harris in 2023 and previously led the former Broadband Communications Systems business after serving as Vice President of Program Management.
Before L3Harris, she held multiple leadership positions at Boeing, including roles associated with the 777X and T-7 programs, Defense Logistics Services, Government Operations and Global Strike strategy.
Aebli has been with L3Harris since 1991 and has worked across engineering, program management, sales and international operations.
His previous roles include Vice President of DoD Sales, Vice President of the U.S. Department of Defense business, Vice President of the International business and President of legacy Global Communication Systems and Tactical Communications businesses.
L3Harris is maintaining its previously announced strategy around missile production under Kenneth Bedingfield, President of Missile Solutions.
The company reiterated its commitment to a $3 billion capital buildout designed to increase solid rocket motor production and strengthen the associated supply chain.
The investment is intended to help address growing demand for missile and munitions production.
Despite the abrupt CEO transition, L3Harris also reaffirmed its 2026 financial outlook.
The company maintained its guidance for consolidated revenue, organic growth, segment operating margin, GAAP earnings per share and free cash flow.
That reaffirmation reinforces the company’s statement that the circumstances surrounding Kubasik’s departure were not related to financial reporting, controls, customer relationships or operating performance.
Kubasik had overseen a period of substantial transformation at L3Harris, but the board said the company’s values ultimately drove its decision to accelerate the succession plan.
Hay, who becomes Independent Chairman, has served on the L3Harris board and a predecessor company’s board since 2002.
He previously served as an operating advisor to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice from 2012 through 2026.
Hay also held several senior leadership roles at NextEra Energy, including CEO, Chairman, Executive Chairman and President.
He previously served as CEO of Florida Power & Light and currently serves on the board of Elevance Health.
With Mehta taking the top role, L3Harris is turning leadership over to an executive with direct operating responsibility for businesses representing more than four-fifths of company revenue.
The company enters the transition while continuing to pursue its focused growth strategy across defense technology and making significant investments in production capacity, particularly within missile systems and solid rocket motors.
KEY QUOTES:
“Sam is a proven executive who brings deep knowledge of our business, priorities and culture, making him ideally suited to become President and CEO of L3Harris at this important time in our company’s and our nation’s history. Sam’s readiness to lead L3Harris reflects the Board’s robust succession planning and our focus on cultivating talent.”
Lewis Hay III, Independent Chairman of the Board of L3Harris
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve as President and CEO of L3Harris. I look forward to working even more closely with my fellow senior leaders and my talented colleagues across the Company to support the needs of our country and our allies.”
“Today, L3Harris has a portfolio purpose-built for the future of warfare, and we are well-positioned to continue executing our focused growth strategy as The Trusted Disruptor.”
Sam Mehta, President and Chief Executive Officer of L3Harris Technologies
“I am pleased to assume the role of Independent Chairman of the Board of L3Harris. Working side by side with my fellow directors, Sam and the rest of L3Harris leadership, we are focused on delivering on our key priorities for the benefit of our customers, partners and shareholders.”
“Chris has overseen significant transformation during his tenure at L3Harris, and he has built a strong team to carry the business forward. However, our values guide the actions we take each day as The Trusted Disruptor and are at the center of everything we do. The Board and Chris have agreed that implementing our succession plan today is the right thing to do. We thank him for his service.”
Lewis Hay III, Independent Chairman of the Board of L3Harris
