Ken Thompson - "Apache Commander" to Consulting the Fortune 500

Ken Thompson is a Principal with AlignOrg Solutions based out of Salt Lake City, a team of organizational design and change management partners. His team helps clients clarify existing and new strategies, optimize organizational set up, and implement systems that drive growth. Ken is also a former Apache helicopter pilot with the United States Army and remains a member of the Army Reserves, serving as the Deputy Brigade Commander for his unit in Scottsdale, AZ.

Since his transition several years ago, Ken’s leadership roles have crossed industries ranging from the Department of Defense logistics and supply chain, to the fashion and apparel industry. He has championed significant organization change, created operational excellence, and implemented leadership development and employee betterment programs, leading to significant overall success.

In this conversation, we discuss Ken's transition into a COO role immediately after his active duty service, and how being introduced to his team for the first time as an, "Apache Commander," set an unwanted tone for his leadership style and approach to managing civilian teams in a new environment. We talk about the impact such a perception can have, and the work he did early-on to reset peoples' expectations of what it means to hire a leader fresh from military service.

Ken Recommends:

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute