Boeing Employee Stays at the Helm for 75 Years

Boeing's longest-serving employee has been named as 96-year-old Charlie Tapper. In June, he marked 75 years of service to the company, earning him a special place in Boeing history. Tapper joined Boeing just a week after receiving his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University in 1951.

At that time, the company was working on several major projects, including the B-52 Stratofortress and the 707, which would become a game-changer for civil aviation. Over the years, Tapper contributed to various programs, including the development of the LGM-30 Minuteman missile system and testing of the first automatically deploying slides on a commercial airplane.

Now, as Boeing's longest-serving employee, Tapper has received recognition from the company's CEO Kelly Ortberg. 'Charlie's impressive career as our longest-serving employee is a record that may never be broken,' Ortberg said in a news release. 'We appreciate everything he's done and will continue to do to represent our company.'

Tapper also shared his thoughts on his long career, saying 'It's been a long journey, and I've enjoyed every bit of it.' He even got to experience the latest technology when Boeing commemorated his milestone with a flight on the P-8A Poseidon.