Industry: Defense

Walter Batson, Jr.

  • September 29th, 2022

A recognized leader in growing smaller businesses into profitable companies, Walter P. Batson, Jr. currently serves as the CEO and Chairman of Interfuze Corporation, a company that he co-founded in 2016. Since then, he has led Interfuze in its acquisition of two other companies and continues to grow the company to this day.

Batson was born on July 31, 1944, in Birmingham, and attended The University of Alabama, first graduating in 1966 with a bachelors in statistics. After a few years in the workforce at the U.S. Army Missile Command, or MICOM, in Huntsville, he returned to the Capstone to earn both a bachelor’s in accounting and a Master of Arts in operations research in 1970. He continued to work at MICOM until 1979, managing large studies related to weapons effectiveness.

In 1979, he joined John M. Cockerham and Associates, Inc., in Huntsville as vice president, overseeing operations of the government services contractor. Batson wrote the first five major proposals that yielded contracts to grow the firm from six employees to almost 200.

On the heels of this work, in 1986, he was brought on as executive vice president of Hilton Systems, Inc. in Huntsville. There, Batson designed and implemented a new business strategy that included hiring, operations, and the development of a corporate culture. Under his direction, Hilton Systems grew from a small, unprofitable company with one customer to a nationwide organization boasting over $20 million a year in sales.

He then went on to co-found Camber Corporation in 1990 and serve as the CEO and chairman. A diversified organization that was selected by Inc. Magazine as one of the country’s fastest growing companies in 1995 and 1996, Camber grew from a startup of three employees at its beginning to a company producing almost $500 million in annual revenue under Batson’s leadership. While at the helm, Batson negotiated several acquisitions, including a flight simulator business and an air traffic control products business. He also developed an arm of the organization that deployed the flight simulator technology in an entertainment context — Camber Entertainment became an industry leader in less than three years and was eventually spun-off.

In 1998, Batson spearheaded the formation of an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, which allowed employees to become employee-owners. During its history, Camber built flight and entertainment ride simulators and biological detectors, developed training systems for state, local, and federal governments, and created information systems, engineering support services, acquisition management support and program management support to clients including the U.S. Military and NASA.

Active in service, leadership, and philanthropy, Batson has chaired or served on the board of directors for organizations including Biztech, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, ARC of Madison County, and numerous civic organizations like the March of Dimes. He also coached girls softball for 12 years.

Batson married his wife, Margaret, in 1972, and they have four daughters and one son: Mary Margaret Johnson, Bobby Batson, Dianne Jacobs, Brooke Browning, and Wendy Henshaw. Avid supporters of The University of Alabama, the couple are 2017 inductees of the Bryant Society, and Batson is a member of the Culverhouse College of Business Board of Visitors and UA’s President’s Cabinet. They are also active in the First Methodist Church of Huntsville.

General. Edward M. Friend

  • October 6th, 2021

No man has been more aptly named than Edward M. Friend, Jr. General Friend, as he was proud to be called, was a friend to, and a friend of, everyone. His civic and philanthropic endeavors on the part of Birmingham and Alabama are legendary. And his military service was an inspiration to a grateful nation.

General Friend was born in Birmingham on May 1, 1912, the son of Edward M. and May Gusfield Friend. He attended South Highland Grammar School in Birmingham and graduated from Phillips High School. He attended The University of Alabama where he graduated in 1933, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in the infantry reserve. He earned his law degree at Alabama in 1935 and returned to Birmingham to practice law. Three years later, he married Hermione Curjel, a union that would last for 58 years, and produce two children, Edward M. Friend III, and Ellen Friend Elsas.

In 1941, he went on active military duty, launching what would become an exemplary military career. He expected to complete a one-year tour of duty and return to his law practice. Those expectations ended with Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. His military outfit moved to California where he attended desert training and general staff school. In 1943 he was ordered to North Africa to participate in the invasion of Sicily with the Second Army commanded by General Omar Bradley. General Friend returned to the United States later that year but left shortly thereafter on the Queen Mary for England to prepare for the Normandy invasion.

General Friend landed at Utah Beach on June 7, and his unit, the Seventh Corps, participated in the capture of Cherbourg, the breakthrough at St. Lo, the Battle of the Bulge, and finally, the invasion of Germany where his unit met the Russians near Leipzig.

General Friend earned several military decorations during the war. He received the Legion of Merit with Cluster, the Croix de Guerre with Palm, the European Campaign Ribbon with seven battle stars and the bronze arrowhead for the landing in Normandy, and the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.

He eventually was reassigned to the Pentagon and released from active duty as a full colonel. He was on active duty for five years, and served another 26 years in the Army Reserve, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. In his final days, he was named a Major General in the Alabama National Guard and was honored with a proclamation of General Edward Friend Day throughout the state.

Following his World War II service, General Friend resumed his law practice. In 1945 he joined Morris Sirote, Jimmy Permutt, and Karl Friedman to found the law firm now known as Sirote and Permutt, one of the largest law firms in the state with more than 100 attorneys.

He took the role of the firm’s “rainmaker,” a lawyer who through his ability and personality attracts substantial and diverse clients to his firm. The four founders of the firm remained close friends throughout their lives.

While General Friend had many interests, he had a true passion for the law. He was one of the country’s great lawyers and specialized in the field of tax law and corporate and estate planning.

General Friend’s effective advocacy and keen intellect earned him a well-deserved reputation as a leader in the Bar. His strong interest in legal education and in the improvement of his profession earned him several honors. He was named Outstanding Alumnus at the School of Law at The University of Alabama, which, along with Birmingham-Southern College, awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He was named Lawyer of the Year, served as president of the Birmingham Bar Association, and as president of the University of Alabama Law School Foundation. He founded the Legal Aid Society in Birmingham, which provides legal help to those unable to afford a lawyer. He also was heavily involved in helping young lawyers develop their legal skills and impressed upon them the need to provide their clients with their best efforts.

General Friend derived immense satisfaction from community service. He served as president of the Birmingham Jewish Foundation, the Family Counseling Association, the Birmingham Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (which presented him the Silver Beaver Award, its most prestigious honor), the Downtown Rotary Club, and the Metropolitan Arts Council. He was chairman of the 1982 United Way campaign at a time of high unemployment and the closing of U.S. Steel, formerly the campaign’s largest contributing unit. He led the campaign to what many said was an unbelievable success that resulted in Birmingham being highlighted nationally as one of ten cities in the “Winner’s Circle.”

He chaired the Alabama Bar Association’s Committee for the Study of Correctional Institutes and Procedures and was co-chairman of the Human Rights Committee appointed by the federal courts to deal with Alabama’s prison system.

He served as chairman of the President’s Cabinet of The University of Alabama and served on the boards of the Children’s Hospital, the Greater Birmingham Foundation, the Red Cross, the Birmingham Metropolitan Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeshore Foundation, Jewish Family Services, and many other organizations.

He was honored as Birmingham’s Man of the Year in 1983, named Outstanding Civic Leader by the Fund-Raising Executives, inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor, and received the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Throughout his life, General Friend worked to improve race relations in his city, his state, and his country.

Upon his death in 1995, several resolutions were adopted recognizing his many contributions to his community. A resolution adopted by the City Council of Birmingham recognized his outstanding generosity. A resolution by The Executive Committee and Advisory Board of the Birmingham Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America recognized his heroism, saying that General Friend” constantly reflected the values that make heroes – courage, optimism, intelligence, tolerance, and stamina.”

General Friend was a collector of quotes, and one of his favorites was this one from Leo Rosten, the writer: “The purpose of life is to matter, to be productive, to have it make some difference that you lived at all. Happiness, in the ancient, noble verse, means self-fulfillment and is given to those who use to their fullest whatever talents God, or luck, or fate bestowed upon them.”

Edward M. Friend, Jr., by all accounts, more than fulfilled his purpose in life, for he indeed mattered greatly.

Roy J. Nichols

  • October 5th, 2021

From rockets to research to roses, Roy Nichols will have a lasting impact on Huntsville, the state, and the nation.

In 1976, along with Chris Horgen, Nichols founded Nichols Research, which became one of the nation’s most prominent research and development organizations specializing in sensor, missile, and information systems. Under their leadership, Nichols Research grew to 40 locations throughout the United States with more than 3,000 employees and revenues of more than $400 million. Before its merger in 1999 with Computer Sciences Corporation, an information technology company based in California, Nichols Research was ranked as one of the top 100 research, development, technology, and engineering companies, and received recognition in Forbes, Fortune, and Business Week as one of the best small companies in the country.

Not content to sit by after the CSC merger, Nichols founded and now serves as chairman of the board of Torch Concepts. Torch Concepts uses the advanced pattern-recognition technology developed for the U.S. Department of Defense to automatically find, retrieve, organize and deliver content relevant to each user’s individual needs.

Torch Concepts last fall began establishing a defense engineering subsidiary named Torch Technologies, Inc. Torch Technologies will provide engineering services and Torch products for the defense and intelligence markets. Torch’s technology is being successfully used in counter-terrorism and missile defense applications.

Nichols was born in Chicago, moved with his family to Pennsylvania, and later to Detroit where he graduated from high school. He entered the University of Michigan, where, in 1961 he received his bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. He later earned a master of science degree, also in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and was a star member of the university’s Infrared Physics Championship Team. In 1969, he moved with his wife and three daughters to California to join McDonnell Douglas, where he headed the discrimination and data processing department.

His work with McDonnell Douglas moved him to Huntsville in 1973 as chief engineer, where he met another engineer, Chris Horgen. The two became fast friends and co-workers, and on September 20, 1976, they formed Nichols Research Corporation, with Nichols as president.

Ten years later, in 1986, the company had grown from a staff of two to more than 500 employees with eight technical offices. When the company was merged with CSC, it had nearly 30 locations, with more than 2,000 employees, five subsidiaries, and two affiliates.

Nichols has more than 35 years of experience in defense technologies, including systems engineering, optical and radar sensors, discrimination and countermeasures, and advanced simulation. He served as an advisor to the Army, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, Congress and served for six years on the Army Science Board. The company has been recognized by the military for exceptional service to the nation and was recognized for technical services and systems analysis for defense systems, ranging from the Patriot and Hawk systems to developmental concepts.

Nichols has been recognized for his professional excellence in a variety of ways. In 1988, he was named Manager of the Year by the Huntsville Chapter of the National Management Association, and in 1993 was named Outstanding Professional by the Rotary, which also presented him the Vocational Excellence Award. He received the Community Service Award in 1998 from the National Space Club, the same year he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. In 2000, he was named Professional of the Year by the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers. In 2002, he received the Medaris Award from the National Industrial Defense Association, and in 2003, he received the Pineapple Award from the Huntsville Hospitality Association.

He also has served on a number of boards and civic and professional organizations. He is a member of the Adtran board and serves as chairman of the Audit Committee. He is a founder, board member, and staunch supporter of the Alabama Policy Institute, which promotes legislation consistent with Christian principles. He is chairman of the Executive Committee and Visions and Plans Committee of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission and serves on the board of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.

He has been particularly active with the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, where he has been a board member since 198 He played a key role in site acquisition, master plan development, leadership, and fundraising. He conceived and developed the biospheric thrust of the Gardens. He provided the initial loan for the Galaxy of Lights, now the Gardens’ major fund-raiser, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors.

Nichols and his wife, Sue, have three daughters and five grandchildren.

John A. Williamson

  • October 4th, 2021

John Alexander Williamson, by his own admission, was a risk-taker, a characteristic which, as he wrote in his book, “would stand me in good stead in the Pacific” where he earned hero status in World War II.”

Williamson was born in Brighton and moved to Birmingham at age two. He attended Hemphill School, skipping several grades, and starting at Ensley High School a year and a half younger than his classmates. He graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 1939 with a degree in mathematics and a minor in English.

He began his professional career selling Chevrolets for Drennen Motor Company but World War II was brewing and Williamson joined the Navy, eating extra heavily in order to gain the needed weight to be accepted. He was a Navy veteran of both World War II and the Korean conflict and was decorated for bravery and leadership. Mr. Williamson commanded a sub-chaser in the Caribbean and a destroyer escort in the Pacific during World War II. As Executive Officer of the Destroyer Escort, USS England, he directed his ship in attacks that sank six Japanese submarines in 12 days. His ship was credited with materially impacting the course of the Pacific Campaign and he received the Presidential Unit Citation. Williamson also held the Legion of Merit for Combat and the Silver Star Medal for Combat in the Pacific Area.

While serving as an instructor in the Anti-Submarine Warfare and Seamanship in the Subchaser Training Center in Miami, he developed a man overboard recovery procedure that was later named the “Williamson Turn,” which is still used in the U.S. Navy as well as in other navies and the merchant marine and is credited with saving countless lives at sea.

After his military service, Williamson returned to Birmingham and work as a car salesman with Don Drennen and later as a district manager with General Motors. Williamson became prominent in American automotive affairs through his consulting and training activities, which developed into a lifelong mission of developing businesses based on finding and filling customers’ needs with high levels of professionalism and integrity. These activities led to the creation of several allied business firms, including his career-long core consulting firm, John Williamson & Associates, later known as Williamson, Merrill, Taylor, & Darling, and then Vantage Associates. He was the founder and chairman of Key-Royal Automotive, whose mission was to increase professionalism in the automobile business and to increase the success of automobile retailers. Key-Royal sought to attract bright young people into the retail automobile field, teach them the business, and help them to become independent dealers. Key-Royal grew to over 25 retail dealerships throughout the United States and operated a training arm that worked with automobile manufacturers and dealers around the world. Mr. Williamson was also a founder of Birmingham-based CARS, Inc., which was an early pioneer in the integration of computers and technology in the automotive business. CARS eventually became publicly traded DYATRON which later merged into SunGard Data Systems, a specialty company in the operations of computers and computing systems with products utilized in the automobile, banking, personnel, brokerage, and mortgage banking industries. John Williamson founded each of these firms and served each as a perpetual advocate, board member, and, from time to time, chairman.

John Williamson received the National Freedom Foundation Award for his open address to Congress, “After 200 Years,  Citizen Speaks to Congress,” published July 4, 1976. In 1999 he was presented the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest medal that can be bestowed on a civilian. Mr. Williamson is well-known in the Defense Department establishment and has lectured military students on numerous occasions, including the War College. He served on the boards of numerous defense-related organizations. Mr. Williamson also was extremely active in religious and civic affairs, serving on and often chairing the boards of numerous organizations. It was once said that he was such a prolific and determined fundraiser for charity that people would hide behind a tree when they saw him coming down the street. In addition to his business career, he tirelessly sought to help others, both directly and through numerous charitable and civic endeavors, devoting particular attention to the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Boy Scouts, IMPACT Family Counseling, Re-Entry and KAIROS prison ministries, and the Rotary Club.

William Stender

  • September 28th, 2021

William H. Stender, Jr. is co-founder and retired chief executive officer of CAS, Inc., in Huntsville, a leading provider of systems engineering and technical assistance for a wide range of military applications, principally to the U.S. Department of Defense and similar or related agencies.

Stender entered the United States Army in 1964 as a Second Lieutenant at Ft. Bliss, Texas. During his 10 years in the military, he served in the Army Rangers and in Army Air Defense in Infantry units in Germany, Alabama, Texas and Vietnam.

After 10 years in the military, he joined IBM in Huntsville as an Advisory Engineer and five years later, in 1979, along with a partner, put his military background to use and formed CAS, Inc., a company specializing in weapon systems analysis, where he served as chief executive officer until 2006 when the business was sold to EDO Corp.

Services provided by CAS include system engineering and analysis support for theater missile defense, air defense, aviation, and land-combat missile systems. When the company was sold, it had 1,000 employees operating in 13 states and on military bases worldwide. CAS reported revenue for the 12 months ended March 31, 2006, of $184.3 million.

Stender, a graduate of Brown High School in Atlanta, received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Tech in 1964 and his master of science from the University of Texas-El Paso in 1971.

He has been heavily involved in all aspects of missile system development, management, acquisition, and deployment,

directing studies of the sophisticated Patriot missile system, Hawk, Army TACMS, and other missile systems for the United States and its allies. He was part of the testing program for Patriot and Sgt. York and also directed the development of simulations in the areas of radar detection and airborne target intercepts.

Stender has served in many civic leadership roles throughout the Huntsville community, including serving as chairman of the March of Dimes annual drive; chairman of the Hospice Huntsville annual benefit drive, chairman of the capital fundraising campaign for the National Children’s Advocacy Center, chairman of the Huntsville Library Foundation and the Huntsville Hospital Foundation annual golf tournament.

He also served on the board of directors for the Madison County United Way, the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Huntsville Rotary Club, the Culverhouse College of Commerce, the Association of the United States Army, and president of the Huntsville Association of Old Crows.

In 2000 he served in a volunteer capacity as interim Chief Executive Officer of the United States Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville and later served as the Chairman of the Alabama Space Sciences Exhibit Commission.

Since his retirement, he has served as chairman of the Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation, which raised $5 million to date to build a memorial to recognize all veterans of the United States armed forces.

Stender was selected Small Business Executive of the Year by the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Person of the Year for the state of Alabama by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Stender, a native of South Carolina, also is the author of Master Switch, an espionage novel that explores the terrifying consequences of a breach of security that puts the United States forces and Israeli defenses at risk.

He has four children and 19 grandchildren.

Dorothy Davidson

  • September 28th, 2021

Dorothy S. Davidson is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Davidson Technologies, Inc., which has distinguished itself as an innovator in the aerospace and defense industries. The company offers a full spectrum of engineering, technical and management services for missile, rocket, cybersecurity, and strategic intelligence systems.

A native of Northern Virginia, Davidson received a BS in mathematics in 1956.

Her career started as a Research Mathematician with the US Air Force Air Staff at the Pentagon during which time she was selected for the one-year Management Intern Program.

In 1962, Dr. Davidson joined the research staff at the US Patent Office as a research mathematician where she developed algorithms to use in patent searches.

In 1965, Dr. Davidson joined private industry where she worked on Department of Defense programs in designing Command and Control and Information Retrieval systems for both field and headquarters.

During the 1970s, she began designing systems for military use within the NATO community. Within her scope of NATO support, Davidson worked with private industrial firms and research institutes for member countries on the development of weapon systems.

In 1996, she and her husband Dr. Julian Davidson founded Davidson Technologies. After the death of Julian in January 2013, she took on leadership duties at the company.

In 2017, The University of Alabama in Huntsville celebrated the grand opening of the D.S. Davidson Invention to Innovation Center (I2C) business incubator, which provides space for start-ups, innovation teams, and corporate partners to work together in an environment conducive to collaboration. The Center also helps UAH connect with federal research agencies on Redstone Arsenal and the larger high-tech community.

Dr. Davidson has been active in the community providing her time and resources in support of organizations, including the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Huntsville Symphony, the Saturn V Restoration Executive Committee, the US Space and Rocket Center, the National Children Advocacy Center, Calhoun Community College, Boys and Girls Club, and the Auburn University Museum of Art.

She has helped fund the construction of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The Center’s mission is to honor the many Alabama engineers who worked in the missile and space programs at Redstone Arsenal and Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as celebrate the life of Werner von Braun, who played a crucial role in America’s space and defense programs.

In addition to Dr. Davidson’s contributions to community, science, and culture, she supports at-risk youth in Alabama. With her purchase of a 10,000 square foot home on ten acres for the Kids to Love Foundation, she has provided girls in the Huntsville foster care system with a place to receive support and guidance. She has also fully funded the Kids to Love KTech Program, which teaches skills related to advanced manufacturing, finance, automotive, and healthcare.

Furthermore, she supports Girls Inc., a mentorship and empowerment program, and scholarship programs at Greengate School, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Auburn University.

Admiral Thomas J. Moorer

  • September 20th, 2021

Thomas J. Moorer was born in Willing, Alabama (just outside Montgomery) on February 9, 1912, son of Richard Randolph and Hulda (Hinson) Moorer. As a youngster, he was such an excellent student that he skipped several grades and thus was graduated from Cloverdale High School in Montgomery at the age of fifteen.

Having always had a keen interest in the electrical sciences, he had dreamed of attending Georgia Tech to study electrical engineering. But with the onslaught of the Great Depression, he determined that his family would not be burdened with his college expenses. He sought and gained an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Thomas J. Moorer graduated from Annapolis in 1933. Before the United States entered World War II, he had also completed Naval Aviation Training at Pensacola, Florida. By 1941, Lieutenant Moorer was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was there when the Japanese attacked on December 7.

Early in 1942, the young pilot flew seaplanes with supplies to the beleaguered American troops in the Philippines. Later that year (soon after the American Armed forces had been forced to surrender in the Philippines) Lt. Moorer and his copilot had to ditch their plane in the ocean near Australia, after being attacked by the Japanese. Although Lt. Moorer was wounded, he and his co-pilot survived. On the same day that they were picked up by a Philippine freighter, a torpedo hit the ship. The two Americans once more found themselves on the ocean, this time in a lifeboat with a group of terrified Philippine sailors. Using the Southern Cross as a navigational aid, the wounded lieutenant helped the crew guide the lifeboat to safety on the Australian coast.

Soon afterward, he was awarded the Purple Heart, only one among the many medals and decorations he earned during his naval career. He also holds the following: Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster; Navy Distinguished Service Medal w / Four Gold Stars; Army Distinguished Service Medal; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; Presidential Unit Citation; American Defense Service Medal; European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Navy Occupation Service Medal; China Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal w / Bronze Star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Philippine Defense Ribbon; Vietnam Campaign Medal w / Device; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; several foreign decorations.

By the end of World War II, the young officer’s valor and skills had enabled him to rise to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In the ensuing years, his increasing capabilities brought him continuing promotions. In the late forties and early fifties, his expertise was utilized as a researcher in naval aviation and as an operations officer on an aircraft carrier. In 1953, he was chosen to attend the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and then to serve for two years on the Navy’s Air Staff in Norfolk, Virginia. After two years as an Aide to the Secretary of the Navy, he was made Captain of the U.S.S. Salisbury. On July 1, 1957, Thomas J. Moorer was promoted to the rank of Admiral.

Admiral Moorer’s s responsibilities steadily increased. From 1962 to 1964, he was Commander of the Seventh Fleet; and from 1964 to 1965, Commander of the Pacific Fleet. Between 1965 and 1967, when he was Commander of the Atlantic Fleet, he was also Commander of all U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force Military personnel in the Atlantic. During this period he also served as the Supreme Allied Commander in the Atlantic for NATO.

In 1967, Admiral Moorer was appointed Chief of Naval Operations, a position he held until 1970. In that year, he was named to the prestigious position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Moorer served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until 1974 when he retired. He could have “rested on his laurels” as a naval officer and devoted full time to the hobbies he still enjoys playing golf, gardening, and fishing. Instead, he put aside his naval uniform and immediately put on the suit of a corporate executive to utilize in the civilian world the knowledge and skills he had acquired during his years in the Navy.

Since his retirement, Admiral Moorer has been Vice-Chairman of the Board of Blount, Inc., the Montgomery-based firm which built the Super Bowl and which currently holds extensive contracts in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. He has served as a member of the Boards of Directors of Fairchild Industries, Texaco Inc., and the United Services Insurance Company.

He has been Chairman of the Boards of both the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc. and of the Association of Naval Aviation. He has served as a member of the advisory boards of the Citadel of South Carolina, the Valley Forge Military Academy of Pennsylvania, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

In addition to the innumerable military awards and decorations, Admiral Moorer has received many other honors in recognition of his accomplishments. He has been named a member of both the Alabama Military Hall of Honor and the Alabama Academy of Honor. He has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees by The University of Alabama, Auburn University, Samford University, and Troy State University.

Today, Admiral and Mrs. Moorer (the former Carrie Foy of Eufaula, whom he married in 1935) reside in McLean, Virginia. They have four children-Thomas, Ellen, Richard, and Robert-and six grandchildren.

Perhaps, part of his remarkable achievements in both the military and civilian worlds could be attributed to the fact that he has followed the advice he gives to young people. To paraphrase his words . . . Remember that the world doesn’t owe you a living. Choose the type of work you enjoy; acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to do the job well; work hard; support your subordinates and help them achieve their goals, and they will work hard to assist you in achieving your objectives.

Marillyn A. Hewson

  • August 17th, 2021

Hewson joined Lockheed Martin more than 35 years ago as an industrial engineer. During her career at the global aerospace and defense leader, she has held numerous executive and operational positions of increasing responsibility.

Lockheed Martin is organized around four primary business areas – Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space. From those core divisions, Lockheed Martin produces some of the world’s most advanced technologies, including the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, integrated air and missile defense systems, military and commercial helicopters, and the Orion space capsule for deep space exploration.

In 2019, TIME magazine identified Hewson as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and FORTUNE magazine ranked her No. 1 on its list of “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” for the second year in a row. In 2018, she was named the “CEO of the Year” by Chief Executive Magazine, a Top 10 “Businessperson of the Year” by FORTUNE magazine, and one of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes.

Hewson currently serves on the board of directors of Johnson & Johnson, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, the board of governors of the USO, and as chair of the Catalyst board of directors. She previously served on the boards of DuPont, DowDuPont and Carpenter Technology.

Hewson has served on several U.S. government advisory bodies and business advisory groups. She is currently a member of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group. She is former chairman and current executive committee member of the Aerospace Industries Association and a member of the board of directors for the Business Roundtable.

Born in Junction City, Kansas, Hewson grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and her Master of Arts degree in economics from The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business. She is a member of UA’s President’s Cabinet and the Board of Visitors of the Culverhouse College of Business.

Her contributions to her alma mater are significant. In 2018, she and her husband, James Hewson, gave $15 million to support the construction of a new 108,000-square-foot building for the Culverhouse College of Business. The building will be named Hewson Hall in recognition of their generosity. The College was also the beneficiary of a $5 million gift in 2017 to support innovation and education in data analytics through an on-campus computing and collaboration center that bears her name.

She and James have two sons, Will and David.

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