Lockheed Martin’s CEO flew 5,000+ hours as an Air Force pilot and Casey’s CEO fought in the Gulf War—now they’re running Fortune 500 companies

Jim Taiclet, Lockheed Martin's CEO, had a distinguished military career before ascending to the top of one of the largest defense contractors in the world. As an Air Force pilot in his mid-twenties, he was entrusted with commanding multimillion-dollar aircraft on classified missions, some of which ended with the grim reminder, "If anything happens, we never heard of you."

Today, Taiclet oversees a workforce of 120,000 employees and emphasizes that the leadership skills gained through military service are invaluable throughout a career. He believes that veterans bring a unique sense of responsibility and leadership by example to the table, which extends beyond their technical expertise. Darren Rebelez, CEO of Casey's General Stores, also experienced a military career before entering the civilian world.

After serving as an infantry officer in the Gulf War, Rebelez moved into management positions at KFC, ExxonMobil, 7-Eleven, and IHOP. He attributes his leadership philosophy—focusing on building trust, treating employees with respect, and providing necessary resources—to his experiences in the military. Both Taiclet and Rebelez recognize that the leadership lessons learned in the military can be applied to any industry, fostering resilience, teamwork, and a can-do attitude.