Captain James R. Wyatt, USN (Ret.)
This fireside chat, hosted by Captain Donald “Biscuit” Nisbet (USN, Ret.), featured Captain James Wyatt (USN, Ret.), Senior VP of Strategy and Business Development at Sparton, a leading supplier of sonobuoys and undersea warfare capabilities. Capt. Wyatt shared his transition journey from the Navy to the defense industry, offering candid insights, practical advice, and lessons learned from his career and post-military experiences.
Key Themes & Takeaways:
1. Value of Relationships
- Managed relationships—mentorship, sponsorship, and friendships—played the most critical role in both his Navy and civilian careers.
- He emphasized continuous engagement rather than transactional networking, citing long-time mentor CAPT Andy Wins as pivotal.
- Personal connections (e.g., ADM Haney, ADM Harris, VADM Grooms) directly facilitated his post-military opportunities.
2. Career & Transition Path
- Navy Career: Spanned nearly 39 years, starting as an enlisted air traffic controller and culminating as a P-3 NFO and senior staff officer.
- Post-Navy Transitions:
- Raytheon: Entered business development via mentor referral. Described it as a “war room” full of retired O-6s. Supported missile and naval gun systems.
- Sparton: Moved to a smaller company, took on broader responsibilities (strategy, comms, marketing), and emphasized the difference between large and mid-tier companies.
- Raytheon: Entered business development via mentor referral. Described it as a “war room” full of retired O-6s. Supported missile and naval gun systems.
3. Lessons from Transitioning
- Start early: Don’t wait until the last moment—he began too late, but was fortunate due to strong mentorship and networking.
- Multiple Transition Courses: TAP, MOAA, Korn Ferry—all offered unique value (resume prep, interviews, civilian expectations).
- Terminal Leave: Used all ~100 days. Highlighted the lengthy onboarding process in industry and the importance of understanding DoD post-employment rules.
4. Business Development vs. P&L Roles
- Business Development is often an easier entry for transitioning officers, especially from operational Navy communities.
- P&L Roles offer more responsibility, higher compensation—but come with greater pressure and accountability.
- Encourages identifying your ambition level early in “Phase Two” (civilian career) to shape your path accordingly.
5. Phased Career Philosophy
- Phase One – Active duty career: Service, performance, and advancement.
- Phase Two – Civilian industry: Build wealth, explore different sectors.
- Phase Three – Purpose-driven work: Travel, volunteer, or retire on your terms.
- He’s currently focused on winning a major contract at Sparton before entering Phase Three in ~2 years.
6. Diversity and Opportunity
- Acknowledged the lack of African-Americans in senior industry roles.
- Committed to recruiting and mentoring diverse candidates, with open positions posted via NNOA.
- Encouraged candidates—especially women and those without elite networks—to reach out directly and use organizations like NNOA to leverage relationship-based opportunities.
Final Advice from Capt. Wyatt:
- Leverage relationships at every level—peers, mentors, senior leaders—for mentorship, referrals, and compensation insights.
- Be clear about your goals in the civilian sector—whether it’s work-life balance or career ambition.
- Use your network to open doors, even if your resume doesn’t check every box.
- Stay prepared and proactive in job searches, especially when transitioning between companies.
Opportunities:
- Captain Wyatt is currently hiring for roles in business development and marketing at Sparton.
He encourages anyone interested to reach out through NNOA or directly, and emphasizes his willingness to mentor or connect others through his professional network (“Bubba Net”).