#035: Velontra Hypersonics - Major General Craig Whelden & Rob Keane III

The Jedburgh Podcast

The rapidly growing industry of hypersonic propulsion requires both sage experience and youthful vigor. The team at Velontra Hypersonics has both. Host Fran Racioppi is joined in this episode by their President, retired Major General Craig Whelden, and their founder and CEO, Rob Keane.

General Whelden brings 40 years of leadership and experience in the defense industry. Rob brings engineering and innovation. Together they are propelling objects at five times the speed of sound and disrupting an industry that has long been dominated by major defense contractors. Pushing the sound barrier has not been done since the 1950's. It was an area the United States once dominated, but today we are losing ground to China.

Rob shares the technology needed to move faster than we ever have, how he has implemented the FAST model to problem solving, and why bringing in Craig was so integral to compete. Craig provides his command philosophy, the importance of character in choosing your team, and his top leadership quirks that bring organizations, and people, all the wrong attention.

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-Fran presses Craig and Rob on the importance of senior leadership in young companies and the value young leaders get from bringing in seasoned leadership to their executive teams.

-Craig defines inspired leadership and provides examples of both right and wrong when taking over organizations and instilling your work ethic.

-Rob explains the FAST model of innovation (Fast, Attritable, Scalable, Tangible)

-Craig delivers his leadership quirks to building organizations built on transparency and standards.

-A deep conversation about hypersonic propulsion, America’s race against China in the development of hypersonic technology, and a history of the innovation of propulsion systems in the defense sector.

Quotes:

-“We are vertically aligned so we design both the aircraft and the propulsion system.”

-“We are currently flat out behind the Chinese in the field of hypersonics and hypersonic propulsion.”

-“I’ve got lots and lots of rocks in my rucksack that I have picked up over decades… you use the experiences of your life to shape what you might do in the future.”

-“I trust you until you demonstrate that you are not worthy of that trust. That puts a healthy pressure on people.”

-“Character is a foundation, without which, just about everything else fails”

-“You really see the strength of a person’s character when they are under pressure. It holds or you see it fall apart.”

-“If they don’t have character it almost doesn’t matter what technical skills they bring to the table.”

-“When Craig came on the team the very first feedback he gave us was that Rob is doing too much.”

-“The team is the number one reason startups fail. That is the number one risk.”

-“You have to put yourself in the shoes of the other person...how is your message going to be received?”

Craig’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:

-Make a List

-Work the List

-Be thankful

Rob’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:

-Never quit

-Do something

-Have fun

This episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.