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Introducing Roderick ‘Rod’ Benson, CCAD’s deputy and chief operations officer
By Kathleen “Kat” Pettaway-Clarke
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Roderick "Rod" Benson is the new Corpus Christi Army Depot, Texas, deputy and chief operations officer.
As the first African American to hold this position in CCAD’s 60-year history, Benson understands the significance of this milestone, the contributions of all who served before, him, and the impact it may have on future leaders.
According to Benson, efficiency and productivity are the keys to producing quality products, which ultimately maintain a healthy business strategy that includes competitive rates and delivery to CCAD’s customers.
Part of Benson’s leadership style is to connect the workforce's sense of identity and self to CCAD's mission and collective identity to “keep the Army flying.” After all, echoed throughout the hallways and the hangars of the depot are the slogans “We are CCAD” and “I am CCAD.”
Benson began his career at the depot as a contractor in 2006. Later that year, he entered civil service as a contracting specialist where he engaged in structuring public-private partnership agreements and procurement. Engaging in those opportunities outside his everyday responsibilities showcased his skill, and was the motivation behind his move to business development in 2008.
In 2009, he was promoted to division chief of components production and later advanced to director of engines production. In 2013, he took a position in the private sector with Abbott Laboratories, where he served as the director of engineering operations for global engineering.
Benson said the secret to his success is “clarity, alignment, and purpose.”
He feels that collaborative problem solving is critical to improving the modernization framework. He talks to employees working on the floor to solicit their input and actively listens while discovering new insights.
His prior experience in military aviation and in the private sector prepared him for his return to CCAD. Benson rejoined the depot as division chief in engine production in 2018, where he was instrumental in increasing engine outputs. In 2019, he was promoted to chief operations officer before being promoted to his current position this year.
Benson is humble about his climb. His advice to others looking to advance is “take the opportunities when they see it and volunteer to solve problems.”
When asked about his focus for CCAD he indicated that innovation drives productivity and efficiency and ultimately ensures optimized depot-level performance and said, “There are two things to concentrate on, and that's people and problem-solving. Technology, techniques, facilities, and processes enable the problem-solving itself. We have a modernization framework that CCAD is marching towards, such as facilities, blue light scanning, and heavy metal reduction. Also, CCAD has acquired automation robots Jarvis I and Jarvis II.”
He continued, “People in the decision-making process should foster an environment where people are willing to engage. Inviting diversity of thought breeds new ideas and perspectives, ultimately achieving better outcomes.”
Benson possesses a Bachelor of Science in oceanography from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the Arizona State W.P. Carey School of Business. Additionally, he is Level I certified in contracting and Level III certified in production, quality and manufacturing from the Defense Acquisition University.
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2022 13:47 |
| Story ID: | 416460 |
| Location: | CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 1,399 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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