Tommy Preston

Tommy Preston

Vice President of Ethics


Boeing

North Charleston, SC USA


One of the best lessons that I’ve learned in life is to really work hard and do the best job where you are, always recognizing that someone’s watching you. It’s going to be those people that are watching that are going to help take you to the next level.

Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Tommy Preston

Milestones

My road in life has been direct.
I grew up in Clemson, South Carolina—growing up with a prominent university practically in my backyard really put the importance of education top of mind.
I spent my summers working for my grandfather at his construction company, which taught me a lot about the value of hard work.
I went to the University of South Carolina and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government followed by a law degree.
After law school, I went on to practice law in Columbia, South Carolina, working on corporate issues for clients like Boeing.
A few years later, Boeing actually presented me with an opportunity to work with them internally—I joined Boeing as the director of national strategy and engagement.
I spent six years learning and growing in that position before being promoted to my current position as vice president of ethics.
Keep following my journey

Career

Vice President of Ethics

I lead a team of global professionals who are responsible for ensuring a compliant culture in the company.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Law
Business
Working with Others

Day to Day

My job is to make sure employees come to work every day doing what they're supposed to be doing. I make sure everyone is following the law, following our policies and procedures, and living our values as a company. I spend a lot of time in meetings with employees in South Carolina and globally. I'll also be up and about walking around our offices, talking to people to ensure they're being compliant and living our values, and making sure everyone has the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for high school students

If you're interested in law or compliance, there are great programs you can participate in to get early exposure to the industry. A lot of these programs can be done in middle or high school. For example, in South Carolina we have the South Carolina Bar Mock Trial program, which can help you learn what it's like to be a lawyer. I also recommend reaching out to people who are in the profession for knowledge and advice. Once you get to college, look for internships for hands-on experience as well!

Recommended Education

My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

"You're not going to be successful."

Challenges I Overcame

First-Generation College Student