Maria Deacon will become United Airlines’ senior vice president of technical operations, a role that puts her in charge of the airline’s maintenance, supply chain, technical services, ground support equipment and facilities maintenance.

She’ll also play an instrumental role in United’s Calibrate, an in-house apprenticeship program announced Nov. 2 designed to grow and diversify the airline’s aircraft maintenance technician workforce.

Deacon will start the United tech ops job in January. Tom Doxey previously held the role but left United in April 2022 to become president of Breeze Airways in June.

Deacon most recently was GE Aerospace’s MRO global supply chain vice president, which put her in charge of revenue across GE’s aftermarket network of global sites and joint venture partners. Before that, she was CFM vice president of services.

Deacon will be the first female leader of United tech ops.