In this episode of “Humble Beginnings,” we sit down with Rick Wagner, CEO of Agile Defense, as he shares about his upbringing in a factory town in Pennsylvania surrounded by a large family, strong work ethic and small town values. And while Wagner appreciated his small town and worked in nearby factories throughout college (amongst many other odd jobs during his youth), he knew he’d need to leave to reach his full potential.

Wagner excelled in high school and received a scholarship to attend university, but academic struggles in college led to their own financial and personal challenges. He overcame them and got his professional start in civil service as an engineer for the Navy in southern California. His career to follow would take him back to the D.C. area and into GovCon. Wagner experienced a career and life turning point shortly after Sept. 11, 2001; pursued higher education; transitioned through several different roles that weren’t always “progressions;” and made various career decisions that would change the course of his career.

Tune in to hear how Wagner eventually became CEO, the values and experiences that got him there, and what he still hopes to accomplish professionally and personally.