Continuing to Serve: Ray

Textron Systems is proud to support its veteran employees, who each bring a unique skillset to the table through their varying experiences. Among those veterans is Ray, a 34-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

After joining the reserves in college and serving in the Marines, where he was activated for Operation Desert Storm, Textron Systems offered Ray the opportunity to continue serving, by giving back to the warfighter. During his time in the Marine Corps, Ray says his most rewarding role was being a Commanding Officer (CO) for a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron, leading 700 marines and sailors. He retired from the military as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Ray became interested in working for Textron Systems after a Transition Assistant Program (TAP) class in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. He applied for a job with the company and received an offer less than two weeks later. Ray’s transition from the military to civilian work was difficult, but with time and knowing the work he was doing was giving back to the warfighter, the change became easier.

Now serving as a Senior Manager of Test Operations at our Shipyard in New Orleans, Ray’s job reminds him of the familial atmosphere he found in the Marine Corps and allows him to connect with and support marines and sailors across the globe.

“There’s a lot of opportunity here,” Ray said. “Textron Systems uses the full spectrum of my abilities, which is exactly the way I felt during my time in the Marine Corps.”

"[My current role] reminds me a lot of being an aviation maintenance control officer since the Ship-to-Shore Connector has an aviation drive train. This is what I love doing. It feels like aviation again. It feels like home.”

Textron Systems is proud to have a veteran like Ray in our ranks. The work he puts into the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) program places us in a successful position year after year. Ray, thank you for your service and for the work you’ve done for us these last four years.