EADS North America Chief Executive Officer Sean O’Keefe today was named the new Chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), America’s leading industry association promoting the defense industry and national security.

“Our national defense industry is a major engine for economic growth and job creation, and I’m pleased to be elected chairman of an association that is advancing the interests of our nation and all members of the defense industry in an increasingly competitive global marketplace,” O’Keefe said.

Prior to becoming CEO of EADS North America in November 2009, O’Keefe served as a company officer and Vice President of the General Electric Company in the Technology Infrastructure sector, leading the Washington operations of the GE Aviation business. From 2005 to 2008, he served as Chancellor of the Louisiana State University.

Prior to leading LSU, he served as the tenth Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). O’Keefe joined President George W. Bush’s administration on inauguration day as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget until December 2001, when he was appointed NASA Administrator.

O’Keefe as appointed the 69th Secretary of the Navy by President George H. W. Bush in July 1992. He previously served as Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Defense, from 1989 until his appointment to Navy Secretary.

EADS is a global leader in all sectors of aerospace and defense, supporting more than 200,000 American jobs and contributing more than $11 billion annually to the American economy. EADS North America is one of more than 1,780 NDIA corporate members.

NDIA also includes more than 90,000 individual members, drawn from academia, government, the military, small businesses, prime contractors, and the international community. The Association promotes a vigorous and ethical forum of information exchange between the government and the defense industry, providing members with a voice in the shaping of national security issues.

NDIA provides members the opportunity to network effectively with the government-industry team, stay informed on the latest in technology development, and address and influence issues and policies critical to the health of the defense industry.

NDIA also provides its members and their customers broad outreach and sector coverage through its chapters, technical, policy, and war-fighting divisions, and the complimentary missions of its affiliate subsidiaries. These affiliates include the National Training and Simulation Association, the Association for Enterprise Information, the Precision Strike Association and Women In Defense, A National Security Organization.

NDIA traces its history to the American Defense Preparedness Association, founded in 1919, and the National Security Industrial Association, founded in 1944. The new NDIA was founded in March 1997.

About EADS North America (www.eadsnorthamerica.com)

EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $11 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

About EADS (www.eads.com)

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2010, the Group — comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter — generated revenues of EUR 45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.