Military Appreciation Month Employee Spotlight- Samuel, Textron Aviation

May, marked officially as Military Appreciation Month, is a special month for both those in and out of the military. Not only do we pause on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month also holds several other military anniversaries and events, including Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces day. As we honor those who have served, we are spotlighting Samuel, a Supply Chain Process Leader at Textron Aviation. Samuel ended his service with the United States Army as a Captain and Battalion Supply Officer. He currently serves as a mentor for service members transitioning into civilian careers with the goal of creating more successful futures for veterans.

1. What is your name, title, and business unit?

Samuel, Supply Chain Process Leader, Textron Aviation – Supply Chain new programs

2. What was your last (or current) title and rank?

I was a US Army Captain, and my last role was Battalion Supply Officer

3. What does Military Appreciation Month mean to you?

Military appreciation is about caring about the Veteran year-round. Its not just about Veteran’s Day or military appreciation month but understanding the needs of veterans every day. Veterans, especially those in transition back to regular life need support. The veteran experience is one that cannot be replicated anywhere else and making sure veterans have access to resources shows that their service has not gone unnoticed. The best way to support a veteran is to listen to their story and help them to learn where to apply their unique skill set. I go out of my way to assist veterans in transition to find work and navigate the complex VA system.

4. Can you share a bit about your military background and what inspired you to join the military?

I attended the United States Military Academy, then spent 7.5 years on active service. I was stationed at Camp Casey South Korea, FT Sill OK, FT Riley KS, and FT. Hood TX. My time overseas was 1 year in South Korea near the DMZ, 10 months in the middle east in Kuwait/Iraq, and 10 months in eastern Europe in Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. I was an Artillery Officer trained in delivery indirect artillery fire for combat. I also had the opportunity to learn about military logistics and supply chain to ensure my units while deployed had the necessary equipment, food, and ammunition for their mission.

I joined the military out of a sense of duty. My family has ties to military service all the way back to the Civil War. I wanted to continue that legacy and be a leader that took care of their team. I go out of my way to support those on my team, and I still get calls today asking for help and advice.

5. What unique experiences did you encounter during your service?

Throughout my time in the military, I was able to visit 19 different countries without ever using a passport. I was able to tour the Korean Demilitarized Zone, work and train with 10 different militaries, tour the WW2 POW camp that was made famous by the movie the great escape, and try some very questionable cuisine in every country I visited.

6. Tell us about your journey from military service to joining Textron. How did your background prepare you for your current role?

I left the military in April of 2020 at the start of COVID. I found a job working in supply chain for a large HVAC manufacturer. While I didn’t know anything about HVAC, I was able to learn quickly and lead a team through a time of uncertainty. The Military trained me well to work in unsure conditions and to care about those on my team. Once things settled down from COVID, I investigated companies in the Wichita area to be closer to family. The military also taught me the importance of following a set of values and I felt that Textron’s culture most closely aligned with the values I had embraced in the military.

7. Can you share a memorable moment from your military career that has influenced your approach to problem-solving or teamwork at Textron?

At a moment’s notice, I was put on a plane by my boss to travel to Lithuania. I was not told what I would be doing and when I arrived, I was told that I would be overseeing the construction of a 20M dollar base. I had no guidance other than not to exceed that budget, and I knew nothing of the local culture. After the initial culture shock, I was able to lead that project ahead of time and under budget. This taught me that in the absence of a clear plan or priorities you need to step up and provide a vision for your team. My leadership style learned from this experience is to always provide priorities to your team even if you haven’t received any from your leadership.

8. What is your favorite leadership principle and why?

I have 2 that I could not choose between:

1) It is better to do something than to do nothing out of fear

2) Train your people so they are valuable enough to leave, but treat them well enough so they never will – Richard Branson

9. Textron has a strong focus on community engagement. How have you been involved in giving back to the community through your work here?

I just started last June and have not had an opportunity to yet, but I am the guest speaker at the Wichita Memorial Day service at the Wichita Veterans Memorial Park. I also currently mentor 6 service members that are transitioning to help them make a successful career change.

10. Lastly, is there anything else you’d like to share about your military service or your experience at Textron that you feel would be meaningful for our audience to know?

A Veteran’s resume may not always directly translate to the role they are applying for, but their ability to problem solve, make decisions under pressure, and ability to not be afraid to make mistakes makes them invaluable to any team.

Veterans at any stage of their career should be given a chance for greater positions of responsibility to showcase these talents. If you give a Veteran a unique problem to solve, they will find a solution.