GM Defense has a new chief engineer March 10 GM Defense was awarded a contract to produce the Army's new Infantry Squad Vehicle and has appointed a new chief engineer to help lead the business into next-generation combat vehicle development efforts in the defense sector. (Photo courtesy of GM Defense) WASHINGTON — GM Defense has brought on Rick Kewley as its new executive chief engineer, who will be in charge of all engineering and program execution at the General Motors subsidiary, according to a March 10 company statement. Kewley has a long history at GM — a 27-year career — and most recently served as GM’s executive director of Global Product Development Quality.