Jon C. Jones, president of El Segundo-based Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, died suddenly Saturday from an apparent heart attack. He was 55.
Jones died at 8:46 p.m. at Sherman Oaks Hospital and Medical Center, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner. A definitive cause of death was not available because an autopsy was not yet conducted.
Jones was appointed president of SAS, a major business of Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon Co., in 2005.
Jones, who was known for his folksy manner, headed an organization that employs about 8,000 locally and 12,400 worldwide. The business designs and makes avionics and sensors for fighter jets, satellites and other systems. The local sector is one of several at Raytheon Co. that helps develop technologies for the nation's anti-ballistic missile systems programs.
SAS has operations in Goleta; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.
"Jon was a valued contributor to Raytheon for 33 years, an outstanding leader within our company, industry and community, and a dear friend," Raytheon Chairman and CEO William H. Swanson said in a statement. "He was a wonderful innovator who guided numerous programs of the utmost importance to our men and women in uniform."
Jones also served as executive diversity champion for Raytheon and was a member of the Raytheon Executive Diversity Leadership Team.
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