Authority, Accountability, and Responsibility: Translating Military Leadership Lessons for Business and Policy Leaders

Free and open to the public. Reception to follow.

An armchair conversation between Secretary Donald Winter and Mike Barger, Executive Director, Office of Strategy and Academic Innovation at the Ross School of Business.

Donald C. Winter served as the 74th Secretary of the Navy from January 2006 to March 2009. As Secretary of the Navy, he led America’s Navy and Marine Corps Team and was responsible for an annual budget in excess of $125 billion and almost 900,000 people. Previously, Dr. Winter held multiple positions in the aerospace and defense industry as a systems engineer, program manager and corporate executive. From 2010 to 2012, Dr. Winter served as chair of the National Academy of Engineering Committee charged with investigating the causes of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout for the Secretary of the Interior.

He is currently an Independent Consultant and a Professor of Engineering Practice at the University of Michigan. At the University of Michigan, he teaches graduate level courses on Systems Engineering, Space Systems, and Maritime Policy. Dr. Winter received a doctorate in physics from the University of Michigan. In 2009, he received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Michael Barger is a professor of business administration and executive director, office of strategy and academic innovation, at University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Dr. Barger served as officer in the United States Navy for 13 years. He spent his naval career in pilot education highlighted by a tour as a student, and chief instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). He was a founding member of JetBlue Airway after leaving the navy in 1999, creating JetBlue University. He served as senior pilot on JetBlue aircrafts, was senior leader responsible for all Flight Operations, Maintenance Operations, Talent Management and Enterprise Strategy. Following his 13-year career with JetBlue, Dr. Barger served as chief operating officer of CorpU for six years.

Dr. Barger received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Learning Leadership and a Doctor of Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Co-sponsored by the Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

• Donald Winter
• Michael Barger