Boeing, Service Academies Partner for Leadership Development, Engineering Education
ST. LOUIS, April 8, 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force service academies have formed a major partnership to support the development of future leaders and engineers.
"Developing leaders of character and engineering excellence are two of the cornerstones of Boeing's culture, so today we are announcing an ongoing partnership with three of the United States' premier institutions that share those goals," said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
Boeing has supported a number of individual efforts at the academies for decades. This new initiative is the result of Boeing working with each to develop a high-impact, cohesive learning approach focused on ethics and leadership training; science, technology, engineering and math education (STEM); and diversity outreach aimed at developing and preparing America's future military leaders. In 2010, the three academies will receive $200,000 each to be used in these three areas.
While primarily financed through taxpayer dollars, the academies supplement that funding through individual, foundation and corporate giving to bolster the educational and leadership opportunities offered to cadets, midshipmen and faculty.
"Support from America's citizens and world-class corporations like The Boeing Company is tremendously important in helping West Point produce future leaders of character for our Army and our nation," said retired U.S. Army Col. Robert McClure, CEO and president, West Point Association of Graduates.
Among the initiatives Boeing will support is a senior-level design competition between the academies to develop the aircrew station of the future. The project will require the successful integration of engineering, human factors and management disciplines to develop an effective solution to an engineering challenge.
"The support and advocacy of organizations like The Boeing Company is essential to our long-term success and provides much-needed support of mission-critical initiatives at the United States Naval Academy," said Byron Marchant, president of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation. "Boeing's decision to support the Naval Academy's STEM and minority outreach efforts, project-based learning initiatives, and our ethics and leadership programs are perfect examples of the kind of support required."
While the training they receive at the academies prepares them to be future leaders in their respective services, academy graduates often assume leadership roles in government and industry after their military careers. The leadership lessons and engineering skills of academy graduates have contributed to many of America's technological success stories. Indeed, Boeing has benefited from their training and military experience; today there are more than 600 graduates from West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy continuing their careers within Boeing.
"Given the strength of leaders and engineers developed by these institutions, it shouldn't surprise anyone to know that nearly 7 out of 10 academy graduates working for Boeing are serving at the top of our professional ranks or holding formal leadership positions," Muilenburg said.
"America relies on character, education, and strong ethical leadership to maintain our position in a rapidly changing global community," said William T. Thompson, president and CEO, Association of Graduates, United States Air Force Academy.
"The Air Force Academy's sole purpose is to develop outstanding leaders of character for our nation," Thompson continued. "The Boeing Company's generous support of our diversity, character, leadership and academic programs helps us share our strengths with the larger community. The Association of Graduates deeply appreciates Boeing's assistance. Together, the United States Air Force Academy and The Boeing Company are keeping America strong."
Source: BOEING
