“SMA is pleased to sponsor Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive. As one of the top Apple podcasts, it delivers valuable knowledge to bid and proposal professionals worldwide. It’s a great source for mentoring and career development, and each episode is so much fun!”

Ajay Patel, President and CEO, SMA Inc.

SMA Executive Advisor John C. Rood has over 30 years of experience in national security positions in the U.S. Government and the private sector in international business and aerospace and defense. He served as a senior official at the Defense Department, State Department, White House/National Security Council, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in Congress as a staffer in the U.S. Senate, and as an executive at Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

In addition to his work at SMA, John serves as Chairman of the Board and Security Director of Radisson Hospitality, Inc. He most recently served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) where he led formulation and coordination of national security policy within the Department of Defense as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for such matters. He managed a team of over 2,100 civilians and military service members and was responsible for building partnerships and defense cooperation with U.S. allies, including overseeing the $55B foreign military sales program and export controls.

John managed implementation of strategies, including the National Defense Strategy resulting in a new focus on addressing the implications of growing competition among the world’s great powers. He oversaw development of a new cyber strategy, authorities, and approach; a space strategy for the newly-established Space Force; completion of the Missile Defense Review; Nuclear Posture Review; and a counter-terrorism strategy for the defeat of ISIS. Prior to serving as USD(P), he worked for nearly a decade in the private sector, including: Senior Vice President at Lockheed Martin International, where he led business growth and industrial partnerships in more than 70 countries: Vice President for Corporate Domestic Business Development at Lockheed Martin; and Vice President for U.S. Business Development at Raytheon, where he managed teams in Washington, DC and 28 field offices responsible for growing the business, preparing market assessments, and managing customer relationships.

Before that, John served at the State Department as Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, responsible for policy on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles, arms control, nuclear weapons, security cooperation with other nations, and export controls. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation. In two tours at the White House/National Security Council, he served under President George W. Bush as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterproliferation Strategy, and Director for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation, and Homeland Defense.

John previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Forces Policy, responsible for the development and oversight of policy and programs related to U.S. nuclear and conventional strategic forces, missile defenses, and space systems. Earlier in his career, he was Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and a Fellow for Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi on the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on International Security. From 1988 to 1999, Rood served in a variety of positions as an analyst at the CIA, including following missile programs in foreign countries.

In this episode we will discuss John’s

• Early life and education
• Defense Department, State Department, White House/National Security Council, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) career
• Business development roles at Lockheed Martin and Raytheon
• SMA Executive Advisor and projects
• People influential in his life and career
• Advice to bid and proposal professionals
• Few fun Qs….

Get to know John Rood! Listen to the podcast here:

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