Northwest Aerospace News April | May Issue No.14 | Page 71

W hile I loved every minute of my time in D.C., my heart was al- ways in Washington State. When an opportunity came to work at Boeing, a home-town company, I was excited but also nervous. My entire career until that point had been nonprofit or public sector work. I didn’t know what to expect in the private sector. Thankfully, Boeing’s culture is built on a strong set of enduring values that place integrity, inclusion, trust, and respect front-and-center, along with quality, safety, and corporate citizenship. As a member of the Government Operations team, I work every day with amazing people to support a strong aerospace and de- fense industry in our community. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is connecting with and learning from Boeing retirees, some of whom worked for decades with Boeing and legacy companies like North American Aviation and Rock- well. The stories they tell about the first flight of the Queen of the Skies Boeing 747, or creating the material that would become the Lunar Rover wheels, are a reminder that I work for a company with a rich tradi- tion of innovation. These retirees made history and shaped our world, something my teammates at Boeing continue to do every day. Another personal passion of mine is giving back to our military and veteran families. I know first-hand the anxiety of seeing a loved one deploy, as well as the heartbreak of not having a dear friend come home. One reason I was eager to join Boe- ing is its deep commitment to our heroes – not just those in uniform but the friends and family members who support them. Rachel with Elinor Otto, a Rosie the Riveter who worked at Boeing for nearly 50 years Through my job at Boeing, I’ve had the honor of partnering with some incredible veteran and military family organizations to coordinate events focused on empow- ering military spouses and helping female service members transition from service into rewarding civilian careers. I am proud to work for a company that not only creates state-of-the-art products that protect our men and women in uniform, but that also dedicates millions of dol- lars each year to support our service members, past and present, and their families. Northwest Readers SHARE A STORY Have a story to share with our readers? Get in touch with us: [email protected] — Rachel B. Peterson, The Boeing Company APRIL | MAY 2020 ISSUE NO. 14 71