Prior to his tenure as chairman and CEO, Bill held a wide range of leadership positions at Raytheon, including manufacturing manager of Raytheon’s largest operational entity, president of Electronic Systems, chairman and CEO of Raytheon Systems Company and president of Raytheon.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bill is active in the field of education as chairman of the California Polytechnic State University Foundation’s Board of Directors. Swanson recently retired from the NextEra Energy, Inc. Board of Directors after 12 years of service, including seven years as chair of its audit committee. Swanson is also chairman emeritus of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and vice chairperson emeritus of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s Board of Directors. He was a member of the Department of Defense’s Defense Business Board and served as honorary chair of MATHCOUNTS®.

Bill is chairman emeritus of the Aerospace Industries Association and is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is a former member of the Central Intelligence Agency Officers Memorial Foundation Board of Advisors and the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

Bill is the recipient of numerous awards from institutions of higher education, the U.S. Department of Defense and other non-profit institutions. A native of California, Mr.Swanson graduated magna cum laude from California Polytechnic State University with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. He received a Master of Business Administration from Golden Gate University. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from California Polytechnic State University.