Robert Erickson

Title
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email
Department
Department of Decision Science and Analytics
College
College of Business

Areas of Expertise

Program Management
Leadership
Has served as a director of program management, business development and engineering at a Fortune 500 defense contractor.  In 2014 retired from active-duty as a USAF Colonel serving as a program manager developing, building and operating communication satellites and ground systems around the world.  Other capacities and environments including Chief Engineer for the USAF's Global Positioning System, Pentagon staff officer, flight test engineer, consultant, sales, commercial real estate management/maintenance, veterinary-assistant and even an entrepreneurial venture with a photography business. Has served as a university professor since 2005.
  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership: Business, Regent University
  • M.B.A. - Master of Business Administration in Leadership Studies, Baker College of Flint
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate - Project Management Institute
  • PMGT 549: Applied Project Management
  • OBLD 535: Leadership & Organz'l Design

MSLD631

MSLD632

MSLD633

MSLD634

PMGT502

PMGT501

PMGT520

PMGT612

PMGT424

Exploring the antecedents of motivation to lead and the affects of collective efficacy
Confirmatory and exploratory leadership study applied individual differences (i.e., personality and socio-cultural values), leadership self-efficacy, leadership experience, collective efficacy and the motivation to lead to explore a multivariate framework of relationships between individual differences and various leadership behaviors. The study also explored the situational affect of collective efficacy on motivation to lead and leadership self-efficacy.
Executive level experience leading multi-billion dollar technical enterprises with 100's of people to design, develop, deliver and operate complex systems.  Managed resources in excess of $1B and annual budgets exceeding $175M across all program phases from inception to completion. Diverse line & operations experience supplemented with brief staff service yielding leadership perspective, exceptional team building, resource and stakeholder management skills all applied in culturally, functionally & socioeconomically diverse organizations. Track record of excellence demonstrated by significant accomplishments, increasing responsibilities and quality results across executive, program/portfolio management, engineering, integration, operations & academic environments.

Key competencies:
Ï program and technical management processes, methods & execution
Ï strategy definition, selection & implementation
Ï systems engineering
Ï engineering design & development
Ï product assembly, integration & test
Ï process improvement

Ability to:
Ï think critically & make timely, objective decisions
Ï build & inspire teams for winning outcomes
Ï influence, collaborate, negotiate & build consensus
Ï understand, manage & lead change
Ï create positive climate, culture & relationships
Ï identify & diagnose problems, issues, conflict and craft scalable, pragmatic solutions
Ï lead multiple, complex projects & measure results
Ï organize, plan, prioritize, integrate & direct cost, schedule & performance for success
Ï communicate clearly and persuasively with all levels of executives, management, customers, suppliers & subordinates
Ï manage stakeholders & politics
Ï lead, manage & mentor direct reports - empower while ensuring accountability & development
Ï define scope, goals & deliverables with stakeholders
Ï set & manage expectations
Ï establish, manage & execute budgets
Ï manage & lead geographically separated teams
Project Management Professional (PMP)