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EXECUTIVE PROFILE – GERALD R. (GERRY) DINKEL

EXECUTIVE PROFILE – GERALD R. (GERRY) DINKEL

BY BRAD GRAVES

San Diego-based Cubic Corp. has two major divisions. One, its Defense Applications Group, provides a variety of hardware and services to the U.S. military and allied militaries.

Gerry Dinkel runs the defense side of the house, overseeing 3,000 employees in 19 states and 18 countries.

He joined Cubic in mid-2000, after a 28-year career with Westinghouse Electronic Systems (now Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems). He took his current job in October 2000.

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

Essential business philosophy: If you keep a good relationship with the customer, almost any issue can be managed.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Exceed customer expectations.

Guiding principle: Surround yourself with opinionated people who know more than you do.

Yardstick of success: Sleeping soundly.

Goal yet to be achieved: Acreage on the Chesapeake Bay.

JUDGMENT CALLS

Best career decision: No question: Joining Cubic.

Worst business decision: Nothing stands out as a disaster. Many mistakes, but people are a product of their bruises, so no regrets.

Toughest business decision: Whenever I’ve had to tell someone they are out of a job.

Biggest missed opportunity: Flight in an F-16, but still hoping. (Dinkel’s years at Westinghouse included work on F-16 electronics.)

Mentors/Role Models: My father, Bob Dinkel, for basic values and attitudes, especially about remaining “calm under fire” and focusing on essentials. Noel Longuemare, a former boss at Westinghouse in Baltimore, who taught, by example, you can always get a lot more out of people by persuasion and teamwork than by intimidation.

Word that describes you: Tenacious. I took a poll on this question, but they all probably wanted to say “stubborn.”

TRUE CONFESSIONS

What you like best about your job: The people, and being able to relate what we do almost daily directly to world situations and events.

What you like least about your job: Dealing with bureaucracy.

Most important lesson learned: First impressions are usually accurate. Don’t waste time overanalyzing.

Person most interested in meeting: All time: Winston Churchill. Living: Colin Powell.

Most-respected competitor: All of them. Never take anything for granted.

Three greatest passions: My wife, family, and fine wine.

First choice for a new career: Novelist. If I retire I might start a book.

PREDILECTIONS

Favorite quote/saying: “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana

Favorite cause: Alzheimer’s research. It’s one of the most frightening diseases I can imagine.

Most influential book: Winston Churchill’s “The Second World War.” I read it as a kid. It was the start of my fascination with history.

Favorite status symbol: My American passport.

Favorite movie: Not a significant pastime, but “Saving Private Ryan” stands out, along with almost any other Tom Hanks movie.

Favorite restaurants: Sante (La Jolla), Sbicca (Del Mar), Milton Inn (Baltimore), Ledoyen (Paris), Pane e Vino (San Francisco).

Favorite vacation spot: British Virgin Islands.

Favorite way to spend time: Visiting family, touring Napa/Sonoma vineyards, golf (very recent).

Favorite automobile: BMW. It’s only a question of which model to buy.






RESUME: Gerry Dinkel

Title: President & CEO, Cubic Defense Applications Group

Company name: Cubic Corp.

Education: Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Ind. Dinkel notes it’s the ‘No. 1 undergraduate engineering school in the United States four years running.’ Graduate work at University of Dayton.

Age: 56

Residence: Poway

Birthplace/Childhood: Born in Patuxent River, Md. Raised in Terre Haute, Ind.

Family: Wife of 33 years, Jean, son Rob, daughter Erin.

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