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EPISODE DESCRIPTION
“No matter what your job is, no matter which service you’re in, there are incredibly valuable leadership, organizational, decision-making and problem-solving skills that every person in the military has, and [translates very well to help the digital transformation underway at Raytheon Missiles and Defense].”
This week, we are honored to welcome Wesley (Wes) D. Kremer to the FourBlock Podcast for an insightful and informative conversation on leadership with co-host Mike Abrams.
As president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a business of Raytheon Technologies, Wes leads 31,000 employees and is responsible for a broad portfolio of air and missile defense systems, precision weapons, radars, command and control systems and advanced defense technologies.
In this episode, Wes discusses reflects on his career with Raytheon Missiles and Defense and on his military service, including what prompted him to join the military, why it was his dream to join the U.S. Air Force, and what he did during his 11 years in service. Wes notes how building relationships during his transition helped him secure his first post-military job and shares lessons learned from his time in the military and in his first civilian role before joining Raytheon Missiles and Defense. Wes and Mike talk in-depth about leadership, sharing invaluable insights about what veterans can bring to leadership roles in the civilian workforce, what the hallmark of a true leader is, and how scaling leadership – delegating responsibility versus delegating tasks – makes you a more strategic leader and helps the employees under you grow.
An electrical engineer and U.S. Air Force veteran, Wes has decades of executive experience in aerospace and defense. He held multiple leadership positions at Raytheon Company prior to its merger with United Technologies Corporation in 2020, including president of both the Raytheon Missile Systems and the Integrated Defense Systems businesses.
In the U.S. Air Force, he served as a weapon systems officer on F-111 and F-15E aircraft and flew more than 90 combat sorties in Iraq and Bosnia.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University and an MBA in engineering technology management from City University of Seattle.
ABOUT US
Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term “Three Block War” to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.
FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.
Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, FourBlock founder, and author of two military transition books. He’ll be representing the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey will be representing the civilian perspective of this issue.
Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org. Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.