Leadership Style and Building a High-Performance Team

Kathryn Tobey is a distinguished Scholar in Residence and Professor of Engineering Practice in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. With a notable career spanning 34 years in the aerospace industry, she served as Vice President and General Manager for Lockheed Martin Space's $3 billion Special Programs Line of Business. In this role, she oversaw advanced programs and development contracts aimed at delivering high-performance systems for critical national security applications. Her extensive experience encompasses leadership positions in program management, business development, and strategic planning, where she has successfully led international teams to mature and operationalize state-of-the-art space payloads.At CU Boulder, Ms. Tobey has developed the "Engineering Management in the Aerospace Industry" certificate, a four-course graduate program designed to cultivate future leaders in aerospace. She specializes in teaching topics such as technical leadership, program management, and global aerospace industry issues. In addition to her academic role, she serves on various boards and advisory groups, including the Board of Trustees for the Utah State Space Dynamics Lab and as a Senior Advisor to McKinsey for Aerospace and Defense. A proud alumna of CU Boulder, Kathryn holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Management. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Norlin Award and the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award from the University of Colorado Boulder. Through her leadership and expertise, Kathryn Tobey continues to influence the next generation of engineers and leaders in the aerospace sector.