US Defense CEO Fired Again Over Sex Scandal. His First Was on a Private Jet

A prominent U.S. defense sector executive has been forced out of a chief executive position for the second time in his career due to personal misconduct.

L3Harris Technologies announced Chris Kubasik's immediate departure as chairman and CEO on Monday.

The ouster follows a targeted investigation by independent board members.

Not His First Scandal

The board concluded that Kubasik engaged in actions "not consistent with the values of the Company as outlined in its Code of Conduct."

The incident highlights a striking repetition of ethical failures at the highest echelons of the American military-industrial base.

Fourteen years earlier, Kubasik lost the top job at Lockheed Martin under nearly identical circumstances.

Just weeks before officially taking over as chief executive in 2012, an ethics probe revealed a lengthy relationship with a female subordinate.

The executive was caught in the act aboard the company’s private jet. At the time, he released a statement acknowledging the failure.

"I regret that my conduct in this matter did not meet the standards to which I have always held myself," Kubasik said in 2012.

Financial Severance Discrepancies

Following his Lockheed Martin dismissal, Kubasik still walked away with a $3.5 million severance package.

His termination from L3Harris carries far stricter financial penalties. A mutual separation agreement mandates zero severance pay, no continued benefits, and halts the acceleration of any unvested equity.

Kubasik maintains the right to exercise previously vested stock options. He officially disclaimed any policy violation that would trigger termination for cause.

A Failure to Pick the Right Chief?

Both defense contractors emphasized that the executive's personal scandals did not intersect with operational stability.

L3Harris confirmed the recent misconduct did not involve internal controls or customer relations.

Sam Mehta assumed the role of president and CEO at L3Harris immediately. The company also reaffirmed its 2026 financial guidance.

The recurring nature of the scandal underscores vulnerabilities in the vetting of top brass across the defense industry.

The 2012 Lockheed incident famously unfolded on the exact same day former CIA Director David Petraeus resigned over an extramarital affair, drawing intense public scrutiny to national security leadership.