May 27, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Stacia Momburg
Cal Poly Public Affairs
(805) 756-6260

California State University and Cal Poly Award
Raytheon Co. CEO Honorary Doctorate

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- California State University and Cal Poly will honor William H. Swanson of Raytheon Company with an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the university’s commencement ceremony in June.

William H. “Bill” Swanson, chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon Company, is widely recognized as an industry leader who is active on behalf of K-16 math and science education.

A Cal Poly magna cum laude industrial engineering graduate, he serves on the Cal Poly President’s Cabinet and the College of Engineering Advisory Council. He was also a member of the College of Engineering Centennial Campaign Committee. Recognized for his commitment to Cal Poly’s academic excellence, he was named an Honored Alumnus in 1991.

Swanson will receive his honorary degree at Cal Poly’s morning commencement ceremony June 11. He will also deliver the keynote address to some 1,916 degree candidates from the colleges of Agriculture, Architecture and Environmental Design, and Engineering. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. in Mustang Stadium.

At the national level, Swanson’s service on behalf of education includes membership in the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF). This year he co-chaired a BHEF initiative, “A Commitment to America’s Future; Responding to the Crisis in Mathematics & Science Education,” which outlines a plan of action for business, education and policy leaders to strengthen mathematics and science education in all 50 states.

“Bill Swanson’s leadership in industry and education is helping our country address a critical problem: the erosion of its science and technology talent base,” said Cal Poly President Warren J. Baker. “We are pleased to honor him for his service and contributions, not only to Cal Poly but to the nation at large.”

Before adding the responsibilities of chairman to his position in January 2004, Swanson was CEO and president of Raytheon Company. He also served as a Raytheon executive vice president and president of Electronic Systems.

Swanson joined Raytheon in 1972 and has held a wide range of leadership positions with the company, including manufacturing manager of the company’s Equipment Division, senior vice president and general manager of the Missile Systems Division, general manager of Raytheon Electronic Systems, and chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon Systems Co.
Swanson’s leadership is based on management rules he developed during his more than 30 years at Raytheon. “Swanson’s Unwritten Rules of Management” are straightforward directives that also provide insight into what it takes to be successful. He has established Raytheon’s guiding business values, based upon the highest ethical standards, integrity and trust, and a strong commitment to inclusiveness.

According to Swanson, Raytheon’s first executive diversity champion, “Raytheon’s commitment to diversity has made us a better company. To have diversity of opinion expressed by the people in your organization is incredibly powerful, and when you harness that, there is no end to what you can accomplish.” Under his leadership, Raytheon is building an inclusive culture that recognizes uniqueness, empowers each employee, values all contributions and contributors, and leverages its diverse workforce to maximize the company’s competitive advantage, thereby enhancing company performance and profitability.

More about Bill Swanson
A member of the Secretary of the Air Force Advisory Board and a trustee of the Association of the U.S. Army, he also serves as a member of the National Defense Industrial Association, the Navy League, the Air Force Association, and the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association.

Other affiliations include membership on the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation board of advisors and the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

A native of California, Swanson attended graduate school in business administration at Golden Gate University. In 2002, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University, where he currently serves on the board of regents.

Among his many honors, in 2003 Swanson received the “Aviation Week & Space Technology” Laurel Award for significant contributions to the field of aeronautics and propulsion. He received the Semper Fidelis Award from the U.S. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Swanson is also a recipient of the Navy League Rear Admiral John J. Bergen Leadership Medal for Industry and a Diversity Best Practices CEO Diversity Leadership Award. The California Manufacturing & Technology Association named him California Manufacturer of the Year. He is also a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and of the Royal Aeronautical Society (United Kingdom).

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