The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 11, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 30.
Next is Cloud Executive of the Year (Public Company) finalist Cameron Chehreh, who’s vice president and general manager public sector at Intel. Here, he talks success in his current role, primary focus areas going forward, proud organizational moments and more.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation? If we have learned anything in the past year, it’s how critical supply chain security and resilience have become. Semiconductor chips make up the very fabric of our everyday life, with their impact felt every time we drive a car, discover a medical breakthrough, or bring advanced technological access to a person or area that did not have it before.Rebalancing global semiconductor capacity requires focusing on the significant importance of semiconductors in every aspect of human life. Intel’s priority is to assure that the semiconductor supply chain is strong, resilient and accessible for mission use.
We are also making sure semiconductors are readily available to support the needs of civilians, the intelligence community, higher education, our manufacturing sectors and defense agencies, among others. Assuring the security of semiconductors, data and information down to the silicon is critical to protecting our nation.What has made you successful in your current role?Choosing to be a servant leader and understanding what that means to my leadership strategy, and why it’s important when supporting a mission environment, has helped my success during my time at Intel. I also recognize my role in solving difficult problems for our government customers and concentrated on helping them to achieve their goals and realize their mission, no matter how big or small it may be.What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?In my time at Intel, we have focused on strengthening and rejuvenating our public sector team. This has resulted in a transformation in the way our company serves government agencies and leaders, and allowed us to act as trusted advisors to our customers.We have also expanded our public sector team, bringing individuals with varying professional and cultural backgrounds together to form one cohesive team. Of our new hires in 2022, 50% are veterans and an increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.How do you help shape the next generation of government leaders/industry leaders?I encourage those I work with to understand what it means to support a mission ⏤ understand the calling of service. I also strive to lead by example with integrity and humility. Learning how to leverage industry via public-private partnerships can be extremely beneficial when growing your public sector career.
Working with government agencies and leadership is extremely gratifying, and I believe understanding the call of service is one of the most important things a government leader can do.