Dr. Karl Spinnenweber
President, Mission Solutions business, Amentum
Dr. Karl Spinnenweber’s team transformed a $6 billion global business group at Amentum, consisting of over 21,000 employees in 50 states and 50 countries, from a primarily labor augmentation model to significant “as-a-service” delivery to diverse clients.
As DOW confronts challenges ranging from budget constraints in key areas to evolving external threats, agility has become an imperative, he said. The efficiency and scalability provided by “as-a-service” delivery is a natural for DOW’s focus on rapid delivery of successful outcomes. Spinnenweber said his team has met this transformation challenge while simultaneously managing the internal activities associated with Amentum’s major merger and taking Amentum public.
“As a new, large public company, Amentum embraces and drives efficiency consistent with administration priorities,” Spinnenweber said. “Through acquisitions and mergers, Amentum has assembled and integrated best-in-industry systems and tools into a highly efficient and streamlined global enterprise.”
Why Watch
“I am a big advocate of driving AI-enabled mission technology into a global business,” Spinnenweber said. “Our team is embedding cutting-edge technologies — like AI, data-driven predictive and prescriptive maintenance, and intelligent scheduling and resource optimization — into repeatable solution offerings that our customers’ mission need.”
For example, his team used sophisticated remote expert technology to sustain and repair U.S.-donated ground combat equipment and platforms in the Ukraine war, remotely from the Remote Distribution Center-Ukraine in Poland.
“Karl is an engaged leader who delivers results and he does so with a uniquely personal touch,” said Steve Arnette, Amentum chief operating officer. “He prioritizes open communication and connection with his team and fosters a culture of caring and growth. Karl has built a proven record of developing and delivering compelling solutions for our clients, and that starts with his deep understanding of the client missions we support.”
Fun fact: Spinnenweber has three daughters. The oldest holds two master’s degrees from Yale and is an executive at Walmart in Arkansas. The middle daughter is a Ph.D. student and teacher at UC Davis, working on her third degree. The youngest, also in California, is a social media influencer with 15.8 million followers.
