                    left the land of Texas tea and loaded up the         and ASU blue sky.


 This international experience served


            acquired Litton Industries) for France-       help grow its optronics business. For two  from his Dallas home to the Thales tactical       upcoming executive, who had developed a            government politics. “It was increasingly   presentation before a U.S. government panel, the government director opened the        here to know that you guys are a       that although the parent company was based in France, he and his team were      everyone on the review panel to know for sure Thales was a French company before they deliberated. “He then stood up and walked out of the room, leaving the panel, and us, dumbstruck. It was one of            astonishment lingering in his voice.


 call from his former employer (recently acquired by L3 Technologies) asking him to come back as vice president of business


16 Mar/Apr 2018


development for the electro-optics division. “I decided to leave Thales, because I  to put an operation for them together when       


COMEBACK


The returning VP soon snatched career victory from recent defeat in a way that would        back to their days when they served on the RCTA committee. The problem was that for most of those years, Atwood represented       That changed when Atwood decided to         vision line. It became a lucrative move. Shortly after making the switch, ASU won a $43 million NVG order, which became the largest sale in ASU history.


        legendary guys. He and I had similar ideas  


BOISE BOUND


 and Chris Atwood began a conversation        “I never had any intention of moving our       


Things have a way of working out, or maybe Providence wills it for faithful Presbyterians,               and his wife were able to serve and revitalize missionary efforts in their new Boise church  passion that people have for missions in our  at peace with the decisions he made.


RECIPE FOR SUCCESS


  corporate skies, and storms, to land at a relatively cozy, family business in Idaho. How did a self-described “dumb Army           “I think there are a few ingredients. One is having a real understanding of how the technology works and how it will be                to be used. In aviation operations, there are many considerations: operational performance, safety, regulatory issues,      


Leadership experience is another ingredient in a successful business recipe. “The military gave me an opportunity to lead people. Leading people is very different in the civilian world. In the military,       have very consistent, clear-cut chains of              people with military backgrounds here at ASU, but our company culture is currently  and delegating to our vice presidents. I try to set the vision and let them execute. 


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