Three distinguished admirals recently visited the cutting-edge manufacturing facility at MARA, offering a rare glimpse into the synergy between military leadership and private-sector innovation.
The retired admirals are on the leadership team at Crossover Solutions, Inc., an associate company of Invotek Group, and were invited to tour the Toronto-area facility:
Admiral Bill Owens (Retired), Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Red Bison Advisory Group, served as the third Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overseeing military operations and strategic planning. After retiring, he held executive roles at major corporations like Nortel Networks.
Admiral Eric Olson (Retired), former Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, served over 38 years in the Navy, including as a career SEAL officer. As head of USSOCOM, he oversaw the readiness and deployment of all special operations forces and managed a $10 billion budget.
Admiral Michael Gilday (Retired), CEO of XO-NS, served as the 32nd Chief of Naval Operations and a Joint Chiefs of Staff member. With leadership roles across NATO, U.S. Cyber Command, and the White House, he commanded warships, a carrier strike group, and the Navy’s cyber force.
The tour highlighted the intricate processes and procedures behind producing advanced, mission critical electronic systems.
The admirals also noted the many service awards that were posted and discussed the importance of building and inspiring strong teams. In a time when it’s not unusual for people to move on after a few years, Admiral Olson pointed out how impressed he was that so many team members were being recognized for 20+ years of service. When he asked how they stay abreast of the latest technology, the team explained their in-house training program, which provides all employees with advanced, up-to-the-minute training on a regular basis.
Their visit served as a powerful reminder of the shared mission between defense leaders and industrial partners: ensuring readiness, leadership, and the latest technology in an increasingly complex global landscape. Learn more about the facility and the leadership team at Invotek Group.