On February 1, 1997, Michael M. Sears was named president of McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, the tactical aircraft, missile, and space business units of McDonnell Douglas Corporation. He was also made a member of the corporation's Office of the Chief Executive Officer. Upon the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in the summer of 1997, Sears' title became President, McDonnell Aircraft and Missile Systems, The Boeing Company.

Sears joined McDonnell Douglas in 1969 as a senior engineer for avionics technology. He had responsibilities on the F-15 Eagle and the Advanced Tactical Fighter programs. In 1987 he became chief program engineer for advanced F/A-18 studies and took charge of new business development for that program in 1988. In 1990 Sears was promoted to vice president and general manager of the New Aircraft Products Division and in 1991 was named vice president and general manager of the F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet project. In 1994 his assignment expanded to include the entire Hornet strike fighter program with responsibility for production and development of the Super Hornet. From April 1996 to January 1997, Sears served as president of the commercial aircraft division, Douglas Aircraft Co., in Long Beach, California.

Sears received his bachelor's degree from Purdue in January and his master's in August of 1969. He completed a master's in engineering management at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He is an Associate Fellow with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi. He has served on the Aerospace Industries Association's Electronic Systems Committee and is a former member of the American Defense Preparedness Association and the Air Force Association.