Ron Murray, Class of 2015

Ron Murray 

Vice President, Quality and Process Excellence
Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries
Newport News, VA

How has your Lead Virginia experience influenced or shaped you as a leader?
Lead Virginia has helped expose me to the “bigger picture’. Not just in the challenges across the Commonwealth, but in how the different localities have responded to those challenges. Each area we visited was an eye-opening experience. Equally as important was the perspectives shared by each member of my class as we discussed those challenges. The class was very diverse and with that diversity comes a wide array of experiences, opinions and solutions.

What is new and exciting with you now or since your time with Lead Virginia?
My desire to serve others has gotten much stronger. I have joined the Riverside Health System Foundation Board. Their mission “To care for others as we would care for the ones we love” touched me personally. The Foundation is currently transitioning from grant-making to fund raising. Quality healthcare should be available to all and the good work of the Riverside Foundation board will help ensure the Riverside Health System mission is extended to all in my local community.

Since Lead Virginia how have you put your social capital to work?
I have maintained contact with a few members of my class and stepped in to be a part of the curriculum committee in my region for the 2016 class.

What is something that Lead Virginia inspired you to do that you were not doing before your class year?I am much more socially aware. Prior to Lead Virginia, I rarely looked beyond my local area. Lead Virginia help me recognize how large my sphere of influence can be and the difference I can make as long as I pay attention to what is happening around me

What did you expect from Lead Virginia going in? Did the program exceed your expectations and broaden your horizons?
Lead Virginia came to me at a time when I was looking to “be more involved” but I didn’t really know how or what to do.  A peer recommended that I join Lead Virginia and was fortunate to be a part of the 2015 Class. I had a general understanding of the program, but really believed I would only get out what I put in. Being a part of Lead Virginia exposed me to the power of social capital and confirmed that each of us can make a difference if we apply ourselves and work together.