BEYA 2019 honoree spotlight: Clayton Crosby
The 2019 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) STEM Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. from Feb. 7-9. The conference is an annual opportunity for professional training and networking with some of the top engineering employers, as well as a career fair for students seeking professions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). At this year's conference, 10 distinguished Leidos employees will be recognized for their career achievements. Each week leading up to BEYA, we'll profile two of our honorees here on Insights.
Clayton Crosby has always been drawn to technology. “I loved tinkering with radios and other electronics, taking them apart and putting them back together again. I just enjoyed understanding how things worked,” he reflects.
Crosby was able to channel his curiosity for technology while serving his country in the United States Army. He began his career as a microwave satellite operator, where he was exposed to new computer technologies. He progressed through his military career, serving as a circuit activations supervisor and a satellite communications program manager, while growing his leadership skills and technical knowledge. Notably, Crosby was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation medal four times in his nine-year career in the Army.
Crosby retired from the military in 2000 and immediately joined the private sector, where he steadily rose to senior positions in Lockheed Martin and now Leidos. He has been a network engineer, project manager, and senior program manager who consistently works to shape the future of the high-fidelity enterprise systems and services for defense and civil customers, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
“Frankly, I am motivated by success and have always been very competitive. Whether competing against others or trying to improve on my personal best, I embrace the challenge,” he says.
Being recognized by such a prestigious national organization as BEYA means so much to me. To be among a relatively small number of black engineers to receive this recognition is truly an honor and, in many ways, validation of my career.
Crosby currently serves as senior program manager for NRC’s largest information technology contract, valued at $679 million. He not only ensures successful program execution through his stakeholder communications and his commitment to quality deliverables, but also identifies areas of improvement and proactively seeks solutions in areas of program management, resource utilization, and staffing. His initiative and dedication to personal growth has firmly established him as a go-to leader that the customer and the team rely on every day to ensure mission success across the NRC enterprise.
In recognition of his exceptional professional accomplishments, Crosby will be honored with a Modern-Day Technology Leaders award at the 33rd annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) STEM Conference.
