Men To Watch 2025 honoree Ron Higgs

Ron Higgs is a seasoned leader, engineer, business executive, and published author with over 25 years of experience across leadership, operations, engineering management, and program management. He has successfully led teams in startups, small companies, and large corporations, navigating diverse industries and complex challenges.

Ron served in the Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer until retiring from active duty. Highlights of his career include performing flight testing in various military aircraft, flying combat missions from an aircraft carrier, and flying operational reconnaissance missions in several locations around the world. He held various leadership roles including Program Manager for several advanced research and development programs, and Spacecraft Manager for a defense department satellite system. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, a former flight instructor, and has flown over 2500 hours in multiple aircraft types. He received numerous awards throughout his career for his leadership, accomplishments, and participation in major US military operations. One of his most noteworthy accomplishments was being selected by the Navy as a Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidate. Although he was not selected by NASA, he considers it an honor to have been considered.

Coaching has been a natural extension of Ron's career as a Naval Officer. With a strong foundation in mathematics and engineering along with extensive experience in technical leadership, Ron specializes in coaching leaders and executives from technical fields. He guides them through the transition from individual contributors to effective managers and leaders, drawing on his deep understanding of the unique challenges they face.

As an Executive Coach and Strategic Business Advisor, Ron brings a systems-thinking approach to leadership, helping individuals and organizations solve the right problems, build strong relationships, and inspire continuous improvement.

Ron holds a BS in Mathematics from the US Naval Academy, an MS in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a certificate in Engineering Flight Test from the US Naval Test Pilot School.

Outside of work, Ron has contributed to his community in many ways. While living in Bellevue, he graduated from the Police Department Community Academy and served on two city commissions. He also completed a five-year term as a member of the Board of Trustees for the King County Library System. He served on the Board of Directors for the local nonprofit Seafair Organization and currently serves on the national Board of Directors for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

Ron enjoys spending time with his wife, Gina, along with friends and family. He also enjoys traveling, riding his Harley, and outdoor activities such as snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking. Friends have described him as a “foodie”, as he enjoys good food, wine, and craft beer.