BWX Technologies officially appointed Toby Smith as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, solidifying a key leadership move for the company. Smith now spearheads the organization’s entire legal, regulatory, and compliance operations.
He succeeds Ronald Whitford, who will transition into an advisory role until early 2026. Smith steps into this critical role after accumulating more than two decades of corporate law and international trade compliance experience, making him a proven GovCon Executive ready to drive strategic growth.
Leading Legal and Compliance
Smith brings extensive corporate governance expertise from his previous roles, having most recently served over a decade at Otis Elevator. As Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary there, he managed corporate governance, oversaw regulatory compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange, and directed corporate sustainability and internal audit functions.
This background positions him perfectly to manage the complex legal landscape facing major defense and nuclear contractors like BWX Technologies.
Experience Driving Results
Earlier in his career, Smith held legal leadership positions at both UTC Aerospace Systems and UTC Climate, Controls and Security during his tenure at United Technologies Corp. (now RTX). Rex Geveden, President and CEO of BWXT, welcomed Smith’s appointment, stating that his “broad and global experience” will serve the company well as they continue to invest for growth and expand their capabilities and geographic footprint.
Geveden highlighted Smith’s consistent “penchant for continuous improvement and drive for results,” core principles aligning with the cultural change BWXT actively pursues. Smith’s diverse and global experience solidifies his standing as a top GovCon Executive in the industry.
