Delta 2, 3 and 4 rockets. Photo: Boeing

The Boeing Company's Delta 2, Delta 3 and Delta 4 rocket programs have been merged into a single organization to be led by Dan Collins, formerly vice president of the EELV/Delta 4 program, company officials announced January 22.

In order to provide continuity of service to Delta 2 and Delta 3 customers, Jay Witzling has been appointed vice president and deputy program manager of the new organization.

According to Gale Schluter, vice president and general manager of Boeing Expendable Launch Systems, the move to combine the programs is in response to the earlier consolidation of Delta manufacturing into company facilities in Decatur, Ala., and Pueblo, Colo.

"Once we moved manufacturing for the Delta 2, Delta 3 and Delta 4 to a single production line, we needed to bring the programs together to ensure the efficient management of our assets," Schluter said. "The move will also bring together many of the support functions, like supplier management, procurement, quality and mission assurance."

Combining the organizations will centralize interfaces with suppliers, many of whom already provide parts and systems for each Delta vehicle configuration.

"Since the Delta 4 program represents the long-term future of our business, it made sense to ask Dan to lead the new organization," Schluter said. Aside from positioning the leadership team to effectively manage the assets needed to produce each of the Delta rockets, the new organization will also give customers a single point of contact.

This isn't the first time that Collins has been associated with the Delta 2 and Delta 3 programs, as he is a past program manager for Delta 3.

Collins joined Boeing in 1990 as an engineer on the Space Station "Freedom" program. Prior to joining the company, he worked for Northrop.