Last October Raytheon Missile Systems president Taylor Lawrence spoke at the Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO) here in Tucson.
As threats to national and global security continue to increase, Raytheon Missile Systems president, Taylor Lawrence, said it’s important Southern Arizona’s largest employer continues to have the opportunity to grow.
Lawrence was the guest speaker for the Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Inc. (TREO) luncheon held at the Hilton El Conquistador in Oro Valley on Oct. 9.
Lawrence stressed that Raytheon is currently the world leader in missile production and technology, while noting that the company’s expansion in states like Alabama has happened because of the buffer zones required for testing.
Answering a question from the audience, Lawrence said the Tucson facility couldn’t increase because there is a lack of “buffer” space, which means they are in need of more land. Instead, in 2010, Raytheon invested $75 million factory in Huntsville, Alabama.
In Tucson, Raytheon currently operates with just over four million square feet.
While the Pima County Board of Supervisors is working with Raytheon, Lawrence said they are constantly improving technology to address because the constant threat against the U.S., such as terrorist groups like Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is constantly evolving.
More specifically, Lawrence pointed to Raytheon’s continued work on the Tomahawk missile, which has become more advanced and has recently been used in the ordered air strikes against ISIS.
“The Tomahawk is a modern marvel made right here in Tucson,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence said the Tucson operations play a pivotal role in national security, noting that as enemies evolve in technology, so does the U.S. in planning to protect itself.
To meet Raytheon needs, Lawrence said as a nation, improvements need to be made in teaching math and science to American students. The U.S. is continually falling behind other countries in these two key areas that are required to created the advanced technology to keep the U.S. and its allies safe.
Lawrence said while Raytheon is a national program, many of its engineers are still coming from the University of Arizona.
Nationwide, Raytheon employs 63,000.
Improving as a nation and state
At the state level, Lawrence told the several hundred in attendance that the economy will not improve in Tucson or anywhere in Arizona if the state Legislature continues to discriminate.
Lawrence encouraged the audience to speak up when the legislature is working to pass bills such as SB 1070 or SB 1062.
“You must send a strong message to the state legislature to stop passing discriminatory bills,” he said. “Today, we are competing in the global economy and these measures make it tough.”
TREO message
Before introducing Lawrence to the stage, TREO CEO Joe Snell spoke briefly about the Tucson economy.
Snell said with the recession’s lingering effects, life in Southern Arizona has been hard for residents and business owners.
As an organization, Snell said TREO has been spending more money to be aggressive and has assisted more companies than ever, especially those working to expand.
To continue efforts to recruit businesses to come to Southern Arizona, Snell said the community must come together in supporting infrastructure improvements to local highways and roads and in working to assure that Tucson has a pro-business environment.
