Chairman resigned before pro-Boeing speech -group

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - The nonprofit Airlift/Tanker Association on Wednesday said its chairman, a retired Air Force general, resigned before he gave a speech supporting Boeing Co's (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) protest against a $35 billion contract won by Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in February.

Retired Air Force Gen. Ron Fogleman, who has worked as a consultant for Boeing for years, called members of the group's board on Tuesday morning with news of his resignation before he gave the lunchtime speech at a conference in Florida.

"Before he did that, he cleared himself of the organization," said a spokesman for the Airlift/Tanker Association, noting that the group has a policy of remaining neutral on contract issues.

Fogleman supports Boeing in its protest against the Air Force's decision to award a contract for 179 new aerial refueling aircraft to Northrop Grumman Corp and its European subcontractor EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research).

He spoke about what he termed the superiority of the Boeing 767 aerial tanker at a lunchtime speech sponsored by Boeing at the annual convention of a separate group, the Aerial Refueling Systems Advisory Group, in Orlando, Florida.

Boeing, Northrop and EADS are all "industry partners" of the Airlift/Tanker Association, which also includes civilians and military personnel, the group's spokesman said.

Mark Smith, president of the Airlift/Tanker Association, confirmed Fogleman's resignation on Tuesday, saying he did so to "have greater freedom of action regarding current issues in the national defense commercial arena."

Fogleman retired from the Air Force in 1997 after 34 years with the service. His last job with the Air Force was as chief of staff.

Retired Air Force Gen. Walt Kross has been appointed acting chairman of the Airlift/Tanker Association, the group said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa, editing by Phil Berlowitz)