Q&A with Spectra Aerospace & Defense CEO Ray Munoz
February 18, 2025
He looks back on his first year and the road ahead for the platform of companies.
Featured in this Quick Takes Q&A is Spectra Aerospace & Defense CEO Ray Munoz. A veteran aerospace and defense executive, Munoz joined Spectra in March 2024, bringing 25 years of leadership experience from roles at Safran Data Systems, Ultra Electronics Maritime, and L3 Technologies. The Spectra platform of defense companies includes ArgonFDS, CALCULEX and Galleon Embedded Computing.
Drawing from his active-duty military background, Munoz brings unique insights into developing technical solutions that meet the rigorous demands of military operations.
Q: As you come up on a year as CEO, what have you learned about the companies under the Spectra umbrella and how they can work together and individually to build the company’s brand?
A: The Spectra companies have a lot in common. They deliver high-tech solutions onto highly complex platforms operating in extremely demanding environments. Our systems must work the first time, every time for our customers
This common understanding enables our companies to share a passion for delivering the best possible solutions available on the market. Closer alignment across the Spectra enterprise will enable us to deliver more functionality and more integrated capabilities. That allows us to help our customers meet the most demanding challenges while addressing their pain points.
I know that if I make decisions affecting Spectra by keeping its people in the forefront, there is no challenge we will not overcome. —Ray Munoz
Q: With rapid advancements in technology in the industry and expanding threats globally, how does Spectra address that opportunity with its three divisions?
A: With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), threats to our customers and nations are becoming increasingly prevalent. Spectra is committed to addressing these challenges through a combination of innovative solutions (faster speeds, larger capacities, higher display resolutions, etc.) and lower SWAP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost).
These advances are enabled by our engineering teams, which are staffed by experts at meeting thermal challenges while maintaining best-in-class functionality in very small footprints. Spectra is making significant investments in advanced technology that offers lower power consumption along with increased bandwidth and processing capabilities.
Our systems solutions are already at Technology Readiness Level 9 — or are soon to be so — reducing our customers’ risk and ultimately ensuring mission success.
Q: In addition to 25 years in the defense and aerospace markets, you also served in the U.S. Navy. How has that experience influenced your own career path and your role at Spectra today?
A: Like many of the skilled people across Spectra, having spent time in uniform affords me an operational view of how our systems must perform for the warfighter. Laboratory testing and design diligence are important, but being familiar with our customers’ unique needs informs our designs for functionality, ease of use, and security.
For example, troops often operate with heavy gear and protective equipment that can complicate device interaction. So, our focus is always to build from the ground-up with those limitations in mind. We also ensure our equipment reduces the workload for those end users. The aim is to make it easier to find and use the important data collected, displayed and stored by removing cumbersome routines. Adding powerful elements of AI/ML helps streamline those tasks like never before.
Q: Thinking of applications across air, space, land, and maritime, what challenges and opportunities do you see in each of these arenas?
A: The future of most platforms will be in the unmanned arena. Our systems and solutions must become even smaller, autonomous, lower in power consumption and easier to use and maintain. The advances we are incorporating into future products are laser-focused on operational utility, positioning Spectra as a leader in the markets that we serve. We will deliver advanced, best-in-class solutions that combine sophisticated capabilities with intuitive operation, designed for manned and unmanned platforms.
Q: From a leadership standpoint, how are you working to manage and understand the individual business units that comprise the Spectra brand? What principles do you follow when making decision that impact those teams?
A: I was instilled early in my career with the mantra that if you take care of your people, your people will take care of you — or the company. Our greatest assets are the people within our businesses, and I make all decisions with them in mind. With the right organizational culture in place, the team moves as one to meet each new challenge.
I know that if I make decisions affecting Spectra by keeping its people in the forefront, there is no challenge we will not overcome. That also contributes to providing the best place for our staff to work, grow, and excel. We will continue to rely upon clear communication, our foundation of innovation, and a collaborative and welcoming culture. That’s what will allow us to meet the challenging growth objectives we have set for ourselves.