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Joshua Tarbutton shares his journey from military service to engineering entrepreneurship, discussing how military discipline and leadership principles can transform engineering culture and workplace dynamics.

Main Topics:

• Military influence on engineering leadership
• Restoring dignity in engineering workplaces
• Creating psychological safety for engineers
• Scaling a design and fabrication company
• Navigating business challenges during COVID-19

About the guest: Joshua Tarbutton, a former U.S. Army Reserve Platoon Sergeant, transitioned from military leadership to academia, earning a PhD from Clemson and teaching engineering for nine years before founding Bravo Team in 2018. His goal: to combine technical expertise with strategic leadership and restore dignity to the engineering profession.

Bravo Team is a full-service product development firm that supports clients from idea to production, partnering with top-tier companies such as Siemens and Stanley Black & Decker. Known for rapid iteration and a maker-friendly culture, the company has grown quickly, ranking #2 on Charlotte’s Fast 50 and #489 on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list with 904% growth.

Still veteran-owned and transitioning toward employee ownership, Bravo Team is recognized for innovations such as the Bravo Walk dog collar and its production of medical shields during the COVID-19 era. Joshua promotes community and team growth through events, EOS, and mentoring. He’s a licensed professional engineer and certified ScrumMaster.

Links:

Joshua Tarbutton LinkedIn

Bravo Team Website

Aaron Moncur, host

PDX 2026 is October 20-21 in Phoenix, AZ. Attendee tickets are 50% off August 3-7 only. Learn more and register at https://pdexpo.engineer/ 

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