Men To Watch Awards 2026 honors Ron Higgs

Ron Higgs is an executive coach, strategic business advisor, and U.S. Navy veteran who specializes in technical professionals become effective executive leaders. He brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across military aviation, aerospace and defense, startups, and high‐growth organizations.

Ron is the Founder and Principal of Wolf Management Solutions, where he works with engineers and other highly technical leaders who are stepping into executive roles and need to shift from being the smartest individual contributor in the room to leading high‐performing teams. Drawing on his background in systems thinking and operations, he helps clients simplify complexity, communicate with clarity, and build cohesive executive teams that execute with alignment and accountability. His coaching focuses on transforming process‐ and data‐driven professionals into trusted decision‐makers who balance technical rigor with emotional intelligence, strategic vision, and the ability to inspire others.

Before launching his coaching and consulting practice, Ron served in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer. His distinguished military career includes flying combat missions during Operation Desert Storm, leading operational reconnaissance missions worldwide, and performing developmental flight testing in military aircraft. He held leadership roles as Program Manager for advanced research and development programs and as a Spacecraft Manager for a Department of Defense satellite system. A graduate and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, he has logged more than 2,500 flight hours in multiple military aircraft.

In the private sector, Ron has held senior roles spanning engineering, operations, sales, and executive leadership in organizations from startups to Fortune 500 companies. His experience includes serving as a Senior Systems Engineer, Sales Director, Production Lead and Aircrew at Boeing, and Fractional COO for multiple companies. Across these roles, he has been recognized for improving complex operations, building cross‐functional teams, and creating scalable processes that support growth and innovation.

Ron holds a BS in Mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MS in Systems Engineering and Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also holds a certificate in Engineering Flight Test from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and additional certifications in program management, systems engineering, and manufacturing from the Defense Acquisition University. His professional achievements

have been honored with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the National Reconnaissance Office Silver Medal, companywide awards at Boeing, and inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who, and Black Impact Magazine’s “100 Entrepreneurs To Know in 2025,” with recognition as one of Black Leaders Worldwide’s Top Leaders of 2025.

Deeply committed to service and representation, Ron has given back through board and community leadership, including serving on two city commissions in Bellevue, Washington, on the Board of Trustees for the King County Library System, and on the Board of Directors for the Seattle-based Seafair Organization. He currently serves on the national Board of Directors for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a meaningful way to invest in the same organization that helped shape his own trajectory as a young man growing up in Southern New Jersey.

Outside of work, Ron enjoys time with his wife, Gina, and their golden doodle, Lucy. He also enjoys traveling, snowboarding, exploring the outdoors, mountain biking, and sharing good food, wine, and craft beer with friends and family.