David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Other articles by Jack Gillum:

Complaint against airline escalatesAirport marks high point: 'TUCSON' tower turns 50TIA to celebrate tower's 50thLocal, state bankruptcies are surgingIf pro-lender proposition fails, 100+ empty stores could dot Tucson areaProp 200 defeat would leave buildings empty across TucsonTucson can expect to see credit get even tighterMagnus had role in WaMu's fall$700B bailout plan meets skepticism among TucsonansTucson maker of gene-testing plates makes solid gains locally

Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps

Former Raytheon Missile Systems President Louise L. Francesconi wrapped up a 33-year career at the Tucson-based missile maker on Thursday, a career in which she led the company through record sales and personnel growth.

Francesconi, 55, was named president of then-Hughes Missile Systems Co. in 1996, when the company had about 6,700 employees. Twelve years later, the company has more than 12,500 workers and is Southern Arizona's largest employer. Taylor W. Lawrence succeeded Francesconi on July 1.

Francesconi sat down with the Arizona Daily Star this week, and looked back on her time in the defense industry. Here are excerpts:

A Since the transition to the new president, I've had the opportunity to say goodbye to people. I've had thousands of people send me notes and letters and come see me, and it has just been a real great opportunity for me to have some closure with folks in the business. I just enjoyed every minute of it.

A: The technology of seekers, the ability to have autonomous guidance on a missile and to do automatic-target recognition have really been remarkable changes. The whole missile-defense arena came up in the 1980s, and the concept of hitting a ballistic missile with kinetic kill — coming in at such great speeds — was just a dream 20 years ago. Today, it's a reality in shooting down a satellite, which has been such a huge milestone.

Also, just the sheer size of the business. Back in the '80s, the Hughes missile business was at about $700 million (in sales), and now we're closing at over $5 billion. The magnitude and diversity of the programs is spectacular.

A We have had the privilege of consolidating business here in the '90s, which set a foundation for moving a lot of families to Tucson. Creating a business environment with the synergy of these missile programs and technologies has allowed us to provide innovative business solutions to our customers.

With that, we've been able to capture some new business and hire some new people. And I'm very proud of the innovation and really listening to our customers to what their needs are.

Let me go in two directions. First, most everyone here in town knows someone who's been in the service, whether it's a loved one or a family member or a friend. We wake up every day with the social obligation to bring them home safely. That's No. 1 in our hearts and minds. Also, this is a very committed, giving business, and there is huge volunteerism within the Raytheon Missile Systems folks, within the schools and communities.

I'm proud of the fact that Raytheon employees match the social obligations of what they do for the defense industry and protection of this country — and bring it back into the community in very individual and giving ways.

A: You know, there isn't to me. The ability for Tucson to grow and flourish comes from attracting people who want to live in Tucson, who want to spend their dollars in the Tucson community, have a huge commitment to volunteerism within in the community and have their children in the school systems.

No, I'm very comfortable with Raytheon's place within Tucson and, I feel a tremendous support from the community, from the government structure and the community itself.

A: It's not just in the defense industry; it's a national issue. It's also about the involvement of youth in math and science, and what it contributes to our country both in advancement of medical technologies, alternative-energy approaches and new technologies within the Internet and the computer world.

Yes, defense is an element of that, but the country itself needs to be very focused on stimulating youth to go into math and science. I think that it's a matter of competing on a global scale, and it's a matter of having the United States having real intellectual capital.

A: I'm just a believer that careers come from a match of something you're passionate about, something you have keen interest in, and something you're fairly good at. When you intersect those three things, your career flourishes, and I never defined career in terms of job title or making it to the top. It's a tremendous reward.

I picked two fields: healthcare and energy. (Francesconi is joining the boards of Tucson Electric Power Co., Global Solar, medical-equipment maker Stryker Corp. and chairing Tucson Medical Center's board.)

I'm doing this because I've been an avid learner, and that's been a huge plus to me in my career. I've been excited on two aspects of the world that I think will be very exciting during the next 10 years, and I want to immerse myself in them. It's more than being on boards; it's a focused learning around two subjects — energy and health care — that I'm very interested in.

I'm also excited to spend time with my family. My husband has stood by me for so many years. I'm just very ready to move on into having more time to spend with the people I love.