Axon federal is proud to be participating in this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Institute (CBCI) 2022 Policy Conference in Tunica, Mississippi.

Meeting with elected officials, community leaders, policy researchers and citizens, we will be discussing how Axon technologies help create a safer, more inclusive world; while also learning how we can continue to improve in our commitment to justice and equality. Conference attendees will also be able to get a closer look at our line of devices and software, including body cameras and less-lethal technologies.

Our vision at Axon is a world where bullets are obsolete, where social conflict is dramatically reduced and where everyone has access to a fair and effective justice system. That is why we are looking forward to taking advantage of this opportunity with CBCI to represent Axon’s strides and best practices when it comes to creating an inclusive and diverse environment for people of all backgrounds.

These issues hit particularly close to home for me. I knew I was destined for a career in STEM, innovation, social justice and problem-solving from a young age, and these are topics I am still passionate about today.

In high school, I was fortunate to win state and national STEM competitions at the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. I even had the opportunity to participate in a NASA-hosted space camp. The path to a successful STEM career was before me. However, while my dad was my first mentor who taught me the value of a strong work ethic, I wasn’t surrounded by many people that looked like me breaking into the STEM field or facing the same barriers that I could look to for guidance.

As Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the federal sector at Axon, I know just how valuable bringing diversity into the workplace can be. We are committed to creating a more just and inclusive workplace and world through our products, technology and people. My colleagues and I have made it our goal to work alongside others to achieve this and to help ensure more people have those same opportunities. This commitment is not just words, but action toward progress that I have seen unfold firsthand. Today, half of our board of directors are women or racially diverse.

I look forward to a range of important discussions during the CBCI conference and our continued steps towards inclusive progress in a diverse and changing world. I’m proud to work at Axon and to have their support day in and day out, and this is just the beginning of the growth to come. It’s clear: representation and inclusivity matter, in the workplace and the world.

About the Author:

Richard Coleman II is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Federal Sector for Axon. In this capacity Richard has overall responsibility for developing and implementing the Federal Sector’s strategy and managing and executing the Federal Sector’s profit and loss. In addition to his duties at Axon, Richard serves on the Board of the Border Security Technology Consortium. He is also a W.P. Carey Alumni board member, an IRA Fulton School of Engineering board member and supports several non-profit organizations, including the Border Patrol Foundation. Richard earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Electrical and Systems Engineering and an Executive master’s in business administration from Arizona State University.

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