John-Paul (J-P) E. Besong is senior vice president of e-Business for Rockwell Collins. Additionally, he is a corporate officer of Rockwell Collins. Besong is responsible for planning and directing the strategic goals and objectives of the information technology organization with focus on designing and delivering technology that aligns with the overall business plan. He was named to the position in February 2003.
Previously, Besong was vice president of e-Business and Lean ElectronicsSM, a position he was appointed to in January 2001. Prior to that, he served as vice president of e-Business, a position he was appointed to in February 2000. He has also served as head of the Enterprise Resource Planning system, a position he was appointed to in 1997. Besong joined the company in 1979 and has held various management positions of increasing responsibility, including director of fabrication, and chemical engineer and process control manager for Collins Printed Circuits.
A native of Cameroon, West Africa, Besong holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Iowa in 1992.
Besong is a member of the board of directors, Lean Aerospace Initiative (LAI) and Junior Achievement, Goodwill Industries; member and past-chair, Executive Board, Technology Association of Iowa (TAI); a member of the CIO Advisory Board; advisory member to the board of directors, Mercy Medical Center and Clinics; and sponsor, National Society of Black Engineers.