Deputy defense secretary nominee to face Senate panel Tuesday

Former Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan is scheduled to appear Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee to be considered as the next deputy defense secretary.

Shanahan ended his employment with Boeing on June 7, according to a letter he sent to Pentagon ethics officials pledging to avoid conflicts of interest.

He has promised to divest all of his common stock and vested stock options in Boeing within 90 days of his confirmation.

"Until I have divested all of these financial interests, I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter that to my knowledge has a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of the Boeing Company, unless I first obtain a written waiver . . . or qualify for a regulatory exemption," he wrote in the letter.

Shanahan previously worked as Boeing's senior vice president of supply chain and operations. He also served as vice president of airplane programs within Boeing's commercial airplanes business and also worked as general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems.