ray jefferson background

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Background: Ray Jefferson served as the Assistant Secretary for the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) at the U.S. Department of Labor from August 2009 to August 2011. VETS is the United States' lead agency and national advocate for the employment of military Veterans. He was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. Prior to this role, he served as a Leadership Consultant with McKinsey & Company in Singapore where he created and delivered leadership training and development programs for clients and offices throughout Asia. His focus areas were organizational change, inspirational leadership, top team development and peak performance. Ray graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a major in leadership. He served as an Army Officer with the infantry, Rangers and Special Forces, with leadership positions in the U.S. Presidential Honor Guard, 3rd Ranger Battalion and 1st Special Forces Group. While attempting to protect his teammates from a hand grenade detonating prematurely during classified Special Forces training, he lost all five fingers on his left hand. After recuperating in Hawaii, Ray attended Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, earning an MPA in Strategic Management with Distinction as a Littauer Fellow. He then earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and was recognized with the Dean's Award for exceptional leadership and service. Upon graduation, he was selected as a White House Fellow and worked as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Ray then served as a Fulbright Fellow in Singapore, where he studied leadership within Asian contexts. Afterwards, he served as the Deputy Director for the State of Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). DBEDT’s mission involves creating jobs, facilitating business development, diversifying the economy and creating renewable energy initiatives.

Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training (VETS)

U.S. Department of Labor

2009 – 2011 (2 years)Washington, DC

CEO of VETS, whose mission is to assist and prepare Veterans and Service Members to obtain meaningful careers, maximize their employment opportunities, and protect their employment rights. Responsible for a departmental budget of over $250 million and 250 team members, with shared responsibility for 2,000 state representatives, serving over 12 million veterans in the workforce. Responsibilities included transforming the agency

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and current programs, launching needed new initiatives, and aligning strategy, operations, resources and management systems to deliver results. VETS operates America's largest transition assistance program, which serves about 120,000 veterans annually, and helps about 480,000 Veterans gain employment annually through its programs and partnerships *Completely transformed and revamped the obsolete, 19-year old Transition Assistance Program’s Employment Workshop, which serves about 120,000 Veterans annually, benchmarking it to national & global best practices. *Launched the “Hiring Our Heroes” program in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, which involved conducting Mega-Hiring Fairs around the nation, and resulted in over 14,000 Veterans and military spouses obtaining employment within the program’s first 18 months. *Implemented a comprehensive talent development program involving onboarding, exit interviews, 360-degree feedback, organizational culture assessments, training in service excellence and networking/”net-worthing” as well as many other measures to promote communication, enhance team member engagement and help achieve individual and organizational potential. *Established transparent performance standards and feedback to ensure that the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) agency produced results with its $256 million budget.

Leadership Consultant

McKinsey & Company

2006 – 2008 (2 years) Singapore

Leadership Consultant with international management consulting firm of over 5,000 consultants that advises leading companies on strategy, organization, technology, and operations. Served as member of the Firm’s Organization Practice, which focuses on organizational behavior, design, health, performance transformation, and merger management. • Consulted to the senior management for several multinational organizations in various industry sectors within Asia-Pacific on the topic of leadership and people development, capability building, cultural change, performance management and top team


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effectiveness. • Created and delivered leadership training and development programs emphasizing strengths-based and inspirational leadership for the largest client transformation engagements within Southeast Asia at the senior and middle executive levels that improved participants’ performance, capabilities and morale. • Developed a distinctive reputation for work in the area of Inspirational Leadership. Created comprehensive, experiential programs combining self-mastery, peak performance and leading others that were highly lauded for enhancing capabilities, performance, morale and personal development. Delivered to senior (director/partner) and mid-level consultants in Southeast Asia – received unprecedented ratings from participants. Popularity and impact led to execution within the Firm’s India, China and Korea offices. • Served as a pioneer member of team that launched the McKinsey Center for Asian Leadership, which offered strategic leadership expertise to multinationals within the Asia-Pacific region. Instrumental in startup activities such as program development, recruiting, relationship building and content development.

Deputy Director

State of Hawaii, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

2003 – 2004 (1 year) Honolulu, HI

Appointed by Governor Linda Lingle to serve as the Deputy Director of a diverse Cabinet agency whose mission was to support business, create jobs, and improve Hawaii’s standard of living by diversifying the economy, expanding existing businesses, and attracting new economic activity. Together with the Director, co-led a department of 230 team members, with a total operating budget of $182 million, focused on promoting Hawaii business, both in the U.S. and abroad. DBEDT’s portfolio included the following responsibilities for the State: international relations, international business, foreign trade, small business development, the Hawaii Film Office, developing arts and culture as an economic sector, research and economic analysis, energy, science and technology, venture capital initiatives, ocean sciences and homeland security as an economic sector. Core member of the State’s economic team. Advised the Director on leadership and managerial practices, the ASEAN relationship, homeland security, and relationships with the U.S. Commerce and State Departments.





• Led the first-ever ASEAN Ambassadors Tour of Hawaii, in cooperation with the U.S. ASEAN Business Council, to develop new, broad-based relationships between Hawaii and the ten member nations of ASEAN. • Led DBEDT’s organizational turnaround and leadership transformation resulting in unprecedented morale, capacity, efficiency and productivity. • Led the conception, planning and execution of the Inaugural Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Summit’s international agenda. The Summit garnered 650 attendees and international media exposure for Hawaii. It brought together VIP representatives from 19 nations to include cabinet secretaries, senior military leaders, governors, national security advisors, ambassadors, business leaders and heads of NGOs from throughout Asia. Considered the world’s largest HLS event in 2003, it was the highest level international event that the State of Hawaii has convened thus far.

Fulbright Fellow

U.S. Department of State

2000 – 2001 (1 year) Singapore

Selected for the Fulbright Fellowship Program on the basis of demonstrated leadership to represent the U.S. overseas in our nation’s premier public diplomacy exchange program. Program involved studying and interacting with Singapore’s political, economic and cultural institutions, exchanging professional and intellectual ideas, and embarking on mutually beneficial, joint work ventures. • Devised a ten-month program that analyzed how public sector leadership is exercised in Singapore's Asian, multi-cultural environment. Interviewed senior public sector officials such as the Prime Minister, Ambassadors and Permanent Secretaries. • Surveyed the state of social entrepreneurship and contributed to it through volunteerism. Developed a program for Teach Me Services to improve the physical health of wheelchair-bound teenagers with muscular dystrophy. Initiated a visitation program at Mt. Elizabeth Hospital, and gave public service presentations to the Rotary Club of Suntec City and the National Library Board. • Created and led a mission to Harvard’s Business School and Kennedy School of Government for one of Singapore’s largest nonprofit organizations to improve its





capacity and resources. Results included hiring interns and full-time graduates, establishing fully funded fellowships and being the subject of a Harvard case study.

White House Fellow

White House Fellowship Program

2000 – 2001 (1 year) Washington D.C. Metro Area

America’s most prestigious fellowship for leadership development and public service. Promotes active citizenship by allowing Fellows first-hand experience in the process of governing and providing leadership for the nation. Each year, 11-19 Fellows are selected from 500-800 applicants on the basis of extraordinary achievement, the ability to serve at government’s highest levels and a proven commitment to public service. The Fellowship is comprised of a high level work assignment in the federal government’s executive branch, an education program and official travel. • Work Assignment – Served as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Commerce and the Under Secretary of State for Management. Shadowed the Commerce Secretary, attended Cabinet-level White House meetings and discussions with foreign dignitaries. Planned the Commerce Department’s first multi-agency task force to Hawaii to promote entrepreneurship, economic development, funding and digital inclusion while optimizing the synergies of inter-agency cooperation. Developed a plan for the State Department to improve the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights’ performance, efficiency and structure. Chaired meetings, conducted briefings, and helped with policy formulation at both agencies. • Education Program – Participated in “off-the-record” discussions with over 150 leaders from the worlds of politics, defense, media, business, the arts, science and technology to include the U.S. President, Vice-President and Cabinet Secretaries. Engaged in official travel to explore issues affecting domestic and foreign policy. Co-chaired the Fellowship’s historic first visit to Hawaii and served as liaison to senior State leaders from the areas of business and economic development, education, defense, environmental preservation and indigenous culture.

1st Special Forces Group, Unit Commander

US Army

1988 – 1999 (11 years) Okinawa, Japan





One of 10 individuals selected from among 460 qualified officers to lead a unit of 12 specially selected, highly trained personnel in executing a classified mission directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Tasked to plan and conduct complex, hazardous, no-notice operations of a timely, sensitive nature, throughout Asia, in support of U.S. policies and objectives. Responsible for planning and executing national policies and international programs unilaterally and with foreign governments and their representatives. • Planned and budgeted a bilateral exercise with Singapore that involved extensive coordination between the U.S., Singapore, Japan and the Pacific Islands. • Co-developed the evaluation system adopted by the organization.

3rd Ranger Battalion, Unit Leader

US Army

1988 – 1999 (11 years) Fort Benning, GA

One of 36 individuals selected from 2,700 qualified personnel to serve as a leader in this elite combat unit. Planned and conducted rapid mobilizations of 30-person unit to global locations in support of U.S. policies and objectives. • Unit received highest rating in department during annual evaluation. • Conceptualized, planned, presented and established a comprehensive development and training program for a new department in the organization that significantly increased organization’s abilities and effectiveness.

Presidential Honor Guard, Unit Leader

US Army

1988 – 1999 (11 years) Washington D.C. Metro Area

One of 10 individuals selected from 2,700 qualified personnel for this high-profile assignment. Led two elite 36-person units that represented the President and our Nation to the world. Planned and implemented programs of international and national







significance. Developed contingency programs for crisis situations involving essential government officials and agencies. • Both units evaluated as being the best in the organization throughout my tenure with them. • Received more written commendations than any other unit leader in the organization. • Organization’s first unit leader in ten years to be selected for and serve in a “Ranger Battalion” – the profession’s most prestigious and competitive organization.

Volunteer Experience:

Volunteer

McKinsey & Company Community Service Initiatives

2006 – 2008 (2 years) Education

Participated in local McKinsey office community service initiatives, such as volunteering to develop a transformation and teacher empowerment program at a local public school.

Volunteer

Harvard University

1999 – Present (16 years) Education

Develop programs that will allow Harvard’s Business School and Kennedy School of Government (KSG) to deliver greater value to Hawaii by providing summer interns, conducting admissions outreach, sharing resources and disseminating scholarship information. Conceived and organized the first visit to Hawaii by the Dean of KSG to meet with leaders from Hawaii’s public and non-profit organizations to.


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Volunteer

Easter Seals, Inc.

1997 – 2000 (3 years)Health

Created a national awareness campaign involving Easter Seals’ 450 sites that educates amputees about the lifelike, aesthetic, upper-limb prostheses available to them.

Founding Member

State of Hawaii

2000 – 2000 (less than a year) Politics

Founding member of Hawaii’s first Disabled American Veterans Appreciation Day.

Mentor

KSG Alumni Mentoring Program

2000 – 2000 (less than a year) Education

KSG Alumni Mentoring Program – Provide mentoring and career advice to current students.

Founding Member

University of Hawaii, Students for Responsible Business


Established a chapter of Students for Responsible Business at the University of Hawaii.

Organizer

Hawaii High Schools


Organized an outdoor leadership development and team-building program for at-risk Hawaii high school students from low-income families. Conceived and coordinated a





leadership and career education briefing conducted by U.S. Navy SEALs for at-risk Hawaii high school students from low-income families.

Outreach Facilitator

U.S. Military Academy


1999 Facilitated an outreach initiative with the U.S. Military Academy to increase Hawaii’s student admissions.

Organizer

Harvard Business School

1998 – 1998 (less than a year) Disaster and Humanitarian Relief

Led mobilization of entire HBS community to provide disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras.

Organizer and Presenter

Harvard University

1998 – 1998 (less than a year) Civil Rights and Social Action

Organized a presentation for Harvard University that chronicled and honored the contributions of African American men and women to our nation’s victory in World War II.

Honors and Awards:

Delegate to Asia Society’s first annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit

2006







Selected as one of the Delegates to represent the U.S. at an initiative seeking to build the network of Asia-Pacific leaders dedicated to public service and responsible leadership while addressing global challenges and the region’s most pressing issues.

French-American Foundation Young Leader

2006

Selected as one of the 14 U.S. Young Leaders to participate in the 2006 program in France. The program brings together proven leaders from the two countries chosen for achievements and success in their professions and communities. It aims to strengthen international relations, foster deeper understanding and develop a new network of leaders between the two countries. Past U.S. alumni have included former President Bill Clinton.

British American Project Delegate

2004

Selected as one of the 24 U.S. Delegates to the 2004 British American Project. The Project aims to strengthen international relations and business links between Europe and North America by bringing together proven leaders from the two countries chosen for achievements and success in their professions and communities.

Rising Star Award

Harvard University

2003

Conferred by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. This annual alumni award instituted in 2001 recognizes the outstanding achievements of recent Kennedy School graduates who have “hit the ground running” as public sector leaders.

Harrison H. Schmitt Fulbright Alumni Leadership Award

Secretary of State Colin Powell

2003

Selected for national recognition as one of two recipients to receive the inaugural Harrison H. Schmitt Leadership Award from Secretary of State Colin Powell. The award honors recent alumni of the U.S. Fulbright Student Program who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in, and dedication to, public service, learning, and mutual understanding.



Fulbright Fellowship Profile

2002

Among the few selected from over 4,000 Fulbrighters on the basis of exemplary performance to be profiled by the U.S. Department of State’s Institute of International Education during its upcoming recruiting program.

HBS Public Service Summer Fellowship Awards

2000

Recipient of two fellowships that involved taking a 50% reduction in summer salary to do a public service internship.

HBS Public Service Summer Fellowship Awards

1999

Recipient of two fellowships that involved taking a 50% reduction in summer salary to do a public service internship.

1999 The Catalyst Award

1999

Recipient of Students for Responsible Business’ prestigious annual, national leadership award for the most inspirational new chapter start-up story of the year.

1998 The Bert King Fellow Award

Harvard University

1998

Selected from all African-American students in the HBS Class of 2000 for annual award given on basis of demonstrated exemplary leadership, scholarship and service.

1998 Athletic Excellence

1998

Represented physically challenged people by competing in a Chinese full-contact fighting competition, won 1st Place and a Light-Heavyweight Championship Belt.



Additional Honors & Awards

Delegate to Asia Society’s first annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, 2006 French-American Foundation Young Leader, 2006 British American Project Delegate, 2004 Rising Star Award, 2003 Harrison H. Schmitt Fulbright Alumni Leadership Award, 2003 Fulbright Fellowship Profile, 2002 HBS Public Service Summer Fellowship Awards, 1999 & 2000 The Catalyst Award, 1999 The Bert King Fellow Award, 1998 Athletic Excellence, 1998

Education:

Education

Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

1998 – 2000

Activities and Societies: First student in HBS history selected for both a White House and Fulbright Fellowship upon graduation. One of three students out of 886 graduates recognized with the Dean’s Award for exceptional acts of leadership and service. Only student in graduating class to be profiled in both Business Week and HBS Bulletin magazines for outstanding performance and leadership.

Harvard University Kennedy School of Government

Master of Public Administration (MPA), Concentration in Strategic Management of Governmental Organizations

1996 – 1998

Activities and Societies: One of ten students chosen from a graduating class of 280 for the Littauer Fellow Award on the basis of leadership, service and scholarship.


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United States Military Academy at West Point

Bachelor of Science in General Engineering

1984 – 1988

Activities and Societies: Selected to serve as the Regimental Command Sergeant Major for 1, 100 cadets. Commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation.


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