Clayton M. Jones

Clayton M. Jones
Chairman, President and CEO, Rockwell Collins

Headquarters: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Website: www.rockwellcollins.com
Primary Business: Aerospace and defense
Revenues: $4.8 billion
Employees: 20,000

Recognizing and Hiring Veterans at Rockwell Collins

I’ve always believed that a leader’s greatest role is to help others see the possibilities before them, then provide them with the motivation and support to make that future a reality. At Rockwell Collins, our diversity and inclusion strategy has always played a major role in making that happen, and today it is more important than ever.

To grow our business, we continue to aggressively expand our outreach around the globe. This goal cannot be accomplished without leveraging the perspectives, experiences and ideas of our entire worldwide workforce.

A comprehensive strategy to do that began in earnest this year, and is already yielding valuable dividends. Major international wins hinged upon the knowledge and perspectives of our business development professionals around the world, including a contract to provide next generation avionics for the Brazilian Air Force’s new KC-390 tanker.

While gender and race are important elements of diversity and inclusion, at Rockwell Collins we are equally attuned to another: veterans and persons with disabilities. Today, more than 870,000 young veterans are unemployed, with more than a million more to come in the next five years.

We work side-by-side with these men and women, and many of them trust our solutions to help them accomplish their missions. Eight percent of our domestic workforce is made up of veterans, and many serve active duty through the Guard and Reserve. A full-time recruiter identifies and hires military talent, and we allocate a growing percentage of our budget to military outreach.

We have made strides in this effort, and have earned recognition from G.I. Jobs as a top 100 military-friendly employer and from the Chamber of Commerce, which named us a finalist for its Wounded Warrior Employment Transition Assistance Award.

But we know we can do more, and have identified it as a key global business goal. Veterans have our deep gratitude for their contribution and sacrifice, and we are committed to helping them put the unique and desirable skills to work for the well-being of themselves, their families and their future.

I am fortunate to be part of an organization that sees the possibilities inherent in a robust diversity and inclusion strategy. The richness of intellect and perspectives we gain from a diverse workforce will position Rockwell Collins to succeed now and far into the future.

Education: Bachelor’s, University of Tennessee; MBA, from George Washington University
First Job: U.S. Air Force Officer
What I’m Reading:Washington: A Life, by Ron Chernow; Great by Choice, by Jim Collins
My Philosophy: Strive to achieve your full potential, and help others achieve theirs as well.
Best Advice: Keep your professional and personal life in balance; you control that priority.
Family: Wife, Debbie; Daughters, Lindsey and Melissa
Interests: Golf, skeet/trap shooting, music
Favorite Charity: Alzheimer’s Association