Rocio Bauer’s profile over at WashingtonExec is worth your time if you’re thinking about what leadership looks like when you’re building technology for the Army. She’s spent her career at the intersection of mission and modernization, and the through-line is clear: serving warfighters means understanding both the problem set and the people solving it.
What stands out is how she frames technology as a means, not an end. That perspective matters more than most executives admit, especially in defense. I see it in every search we run—clients want someone who can translate between the Pentagon and the product team, who won’t confuse activity with progress. That’s a narrow talent pool, and it starts with leaders who’ve done the work themselves.
If you’re building or leading a team supporting DoD customers, the questions she’s asking are the ones your stakeholders are asking too. It’s a useful calibration.