Key Lesson: Don’t run from problems. Adapt, mitigate, collaborate for solutions.
This week’s Grounded Leader was among a prominent contingent of speakers at the “TechSurge – Technical Support for Coastal Resiliency” Conference held in early June at Old Dominion University. It was a first-of-its-kind conference on the resiliency of coastal areas to the threat of climate change. Hampton Roads, VA, was the focus of the conference, engaging stakeholders ranging from the White House and the Navy to the Norfolk city government and Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).
Bob Fallon, director of Facilities and Waterfront Support at Newport News Shipbuilding, with his academic, federal and city government colleagues, are leading the Hampton Roads Pilot Project with the larger aim of a “Whole Government” approach to adaptation to sea level rise and other climate impacts in the region. Fallon and Newport News Shipbuilding are working closely with all these organizations to collaborate on taking action now to better weather the storms ahead.
This week NPR reported on the conference citing the range of reactions to climate change in the region. The area is home to the largest naval operation in the world and therefore, as sea levels rise, planning for coastal resiliency has become a national security concern. Fallon makes it clear that relocation for NNS is not an option. What needs to be done is adapting and designing for resiliency. He told NPR, “Decades from now, the company will be there, just operating on higher ground.”
At Healthy Companies, we are always thrilled to see a company we know well, and its leaders, demonstrating corporate citizenship and collaborating for a greater good. Our research shows that business changes one leader at a time. Bob Fallon is our Grounded Leader of the Week for his adaptive mindset, his foresight in recognizing possibilities and taking action to mitigate future obstacles.
Transforming Business One Leader At A Time
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