Our Leadership

Dr. Adaora Nelson is the vice president of Quality & Mission Assurance for Raytheon, a business of RTX that specializes in integrated air and missile defense, advanced sensors, space-based systems, hypersonics, effectors and cyber solutions. Her responsibilities include leading all aspects of Quality & Mission Assurance to ensure the integration of quality throughout the business. She also leads Raytheon’s CORE operating system to ensure strategic alignment and execution of goals and initiatives, process maturation and continuous improvement.

Nelson, a Navy veteran, has 23 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in Quality, Operations, General Management, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Export/Import Control. She most recently served as vice president of Quality & Product Safety for Raytheon Missiles & Defense, overseeing the company’s quality performance with a focus on design quality, product safety, compliance and command media. Nelson previously held leadership roles with Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Raytheon Missile Systems, including chief of staff to the president, and executive director of Operations Quality.

Before joining the company in 2019, Nelson was the vice president, COO and general manager of Safran Electronics & Defense, USA. She also held several leadership positions at Parker Aerospace. 

Nelson holds a Ph.D. in engineering and technology management from Northcentral University, a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and a bachelor’s degree in electronics systems from Southern Illinois University.