The defense industry depends on the federal government for all of its sales, so contractors are very careful about picking who will run their Washington offices. A look at the top operatives at Boeing, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin suggests that certain qualities are valued above all others: deep knowledge of how the government operates, a well-developed network of capital connections, an ability to reach across the political aisle regardless of party affiliation. Like the CEOs to whom they report, the heads of Washington offices tend to be self-made individuals who are discreet about their work but skilled at interacting with diverse players. I have written a commentary for Forbes here.
Find Archived Articles: