On this monthly column, Defense Each day highlights individuals from across the federal government, industry and academia whose efforts contribute day by day to national defense, from this system managers to the human resource leaders, to the engineers and logistics officers.
Dominique Cooper, Maxar serves as Director of Business Development for the Intelligence Programs division at Maxar, where she has served since December 2022. Previously, she was the founder and chief product officer at Style Digital LLC and director of strategic programs at Tanzle. She previously served in several program manager government positions with the Navy, Marine Corps, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
How did you get entangled within the defense industry or community?
I became involved within the defense and intelligence community through a mix of my experience as a nuclear engineer and program manager, and my desire to make an actual difference. I began my government profession working for the Naval Sea Systems Command and later, was presented a possibility to affix the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Then I took a leap of religion and entered the world of Silicon Valley startups. I quickly discovered the enjoyment of juggling various roles and responsibilities. Although the experience was exciting, I noticed I missed the sense of mission that comes with working in the general public sector. This realization led me to Maxar, a geospatial giant that makes a difference daily supporting defense and intelligence organizations.
What are some challenges you faced working through your profession?
As a female nuclear engineer, a greater query can be ‘what hasn’t been a challenge?’ Perhaps that just makes it more fun, though. I even have encountered complex technical problems that required revolutionary “solutioning” to attain mission success—i.e., what can we do with what we’ve got that may add immediate impact. Tackling these challenges required the desire to deepen my knowledge and construct a team of mission-focused out-of-the-box thinkers and finishers.
Did you are feeling like you mostly had sufficient mentors and leaders to assist guide you? Why/why not?
I don’t consider you’ll be able to have too many mentors. I even have been fortunate to have spectacular mentors who’re givers throughout my journey, and I’m immensely grateful for his or her guidance and support. For me, the core focus of my journey has at all times been in regards to the mission. Why are we doing what we’re doing, and where do I slot in? This endeavor calls for a mix of hard skills and soft skills. While hard skills might be learned through education and experience, strengthening soft skills can often be hard. These skills, which involve communication, adaptability, and leadership, often emanate from wisdom and are shaped by mentorship.
How do you’re employed to be a mentor yourself to younger counterparts?
I consider in the ability of transparency and openness, so I share career-related strategies which have proven effective in addition to lessons learned from my very own failures. One mentee who stands out in my mind was an excellent young female engineer fresh out of school, contemplating a profession with the Department of Defense. Together, we dedicated our time to uncover her strengths and passions and to discover areas of interest and available opportunities. We then aligned this information together with her long-term profession aspirations, making a visual representation that illuminated existing pathways to success and uncovered potential recent routes to forge. The impact of this visual was profound. She pursued the trail that resonated most together with her, and today she is a Senior Principal Systems Engineer at a top defense contractor.
Having received immense wisdom from my very own mentors, I hold a responsibility to contribute to the expansion and development of others. This journey has an influence that extends far beyond the confines of mentor and mentee—it creates a ripple effect that shapes industries and communities.
What does it mean to achieve success in your profession field?
I even have consistently emphasized the importance of the mission and prioritizing its importance, and there’s a profound reason behind it – valuing service to others above oneself. In my profession field, there isn’t a single recipe for achievement, but there are fundamental principles that one must embody in pursuit of a meaningful profession. Amongst those I hold dear are:
- Never Stop Learning: Develop a mindset of continuous learning. Put money into expanding your knowledge and skills and stay curious.
- Embrace Change: Turn out to be comfortable with evolving environments and ambiguity. Control is restricted, so deal with what you’ll be able to influence and apply wisdom to navigate the remaining.
- Favor Teamwork: As Helen Keller said, “Alone we will accomplish that little; together we will accomplish that much.” Collaboration and effective teamwork drive success.
- Be Honest: Honesty and integrity needs to be non-negotiable. Upholding ethical conduct builds trust and establishes a solid foundation for the skilled journey.
- Lead Without Limits: Leadership shouldn’t be limited to titles; it’s about influencing others positively and driving impactful change.
- Cultivate Resilience: There is no such thing as a problem that may withstand perseverance and positive pondering.
- Master the Art of Negotiation: Effective negotiation can enable you navigate conflicts, reach win-win solutions, and advance your profession.
What are a few of the under-appreciated positions within the defense field, the unsung heroes or essential cogs within the machine that help the job get done with less recognition?
Behind every outstanding figure or icon, there are countless individuals who often go unrecognized. From the dedicated support staff, reminiscent of administrative executives, enterprise IT technicians, and travel assistants, to the intelligence analysts who analyze data to tell decision-makers about national security threats, these unsung heroes work diligently within the background. These quiet professionals deserve our gratitude. Their labor and support are crucial for the success of any endeavor.
How can the industry improve in promoting these individuals and constructing them up?
All the time explain the “why” first, don’t start with or fixate on the duty. Spend time elevating peoples’ perspectives with the aim so that they could make micro decisions of their on a regular basis work. This approach leads to higher products and outcomes and strengthens the bonds inside teams.
What’s your advice for brand new entrants to the defense/military community?
The longer term belongs to the curious. As you embark in your profession in defense and intelligence, embrace curiosity as a fundamental element of growth. Be interested by the mission and the best way to provide higher support. Be interested by technical workflows and iterate on how these processes might be improved. Be interested by customer satisfaction and create recent ways to make sure long run success.
My curiosity would often present itself with the query “why”, which could lead on to deeper insights in regards to the material. But through the early stages of my profession, I used to hesitate, anxious that my questions or comments might come across as limiting. I discovered that many others within the room shared similar thoughts or sought the identical clarifications. Surprisingly, another person would often find yourself asking the very query I had in mind. So, don’t hold back—ask away! It’s intriguing how as engineers, we’re taught to offer answers without emphasizing the importance of finding the fitting questions.
Above all, prioritize the integrity of the mission, even when it means making unpopular selections. Surround yourself with individuals who share this principle. Practice energetic listening and thoughtful communication; we’ve got two ears and just one mouth, so I encourage you to listen greater than you talk.
What do you see as the long run of your sector in national defense?
I consider the important thing differentiators in the long run will derive from greater leverage of technology. At Maxar, we’re helping our customers move from sensing to sense-making by constructing the globe in 3D, offering multi-source solutions, and embracing AI/ML innovations. This can enable more context and data on the speed of mission, and help our customers evolve from seeing, to understanding, to being empowered to act due to the info, tools and insights we offer.
Who’re the Force Multipliers in your community? Tell us at [email protected].