From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership

by William Toti

In From CO to A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership, William J. Toti, former CO of the nuclear submarine USS Indianapolis and former CEO of Sparton Corporation, offers a seminal manual for service members transitioning to civilian careers and navigating their rise up the corporate ladder.    You’ve served your country dutifully, and as a member of the US armed forces you’ve also developed a discipline, drive, and skillset admired the world over. Your success in the civilian job market after your military career ends is all but ensured, right? Well, if statistics and real-life reports from your predecessors are any indication, this transition is not always smooth sailing. More than 200,000 service members separate from the military each year. More than half of those surveyed about the process felt as if they had little to no help with the transition. That’s why William J. Toti, retired naval officer and CEO of Sparton Corporation, wrote From CO to A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership. As someone who successfully progressed from captain of a nuclear submarine to a captain of industry, he knows what it takes to make the most of your military training and what more is needed to rise up the ranks in the C-suite. From CO to CEO aims to help you get the most out of your industry career, thinking through the kind of company and career track that is best for you. It provides a step-by-step guide to navigating the search, interview, and negotiation process and helps you acclimate to your new environment and to accelerate your climb to the top.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2022

Reviews

[Jeff Palomino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m retiring from the Air Force this year and a Navy friend recommended this book to me. Highly recommend it! It has excellent and no nonsense advice that you do not get in your transition assistance program. In fact the author makes the point in the beginning that the transition assistance programs are taught by people they don’t have any experience in what they’re teaching. I found it to be very helpful on transitioning to industry but also got really good advice on how different contractors work, financial arrangements after retiring, and a whole host a very good issues. Really no nonsense and down to earth. Highly recommend it!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would make an excellent gift for a member of the active military who is approaching retirement. Even though I don't fall into that category, I work for the military and I gleaned a lot of insight into the challenges facing military retirees who are entering the commercial workforce. If you are reaching the end of your military career but not your working life, get this book and read it. If you know someone who falls into that category, give them a copy as an early retirement gift. It may prove to be very valuable to them.

[Joy Folkens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a long book, and gives insight into how industry interacts with government. Offers a "translation" for common misunderstandings between the two