Col. Mike Manning

Professor, Engineering Leadership

Professor Mike “Colonel Mike” Manning joined the Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership in 2020. He served in a variety of leadership, command and staff capacities with the US Army ranging from leading troops in contingency operations in Kosovo and Iraq to advising partner nation governments and/or militaries in the Bahamas, Central America and Afghanistan. He has extensive experience in operational, crisis, and strategic planning involving diverse, cross functional teams and has facilitated cabinet-level organizational change initiatives for the Governor of the State of Rhode Island. Colonel Mike previously worked as an executive recruiter for three years with a boutique recruiting firm in Boston, MA whose clients represented a myriad of industries. Mike has served as a Sr. Instructor of Design Thinking at the Joint Special Operations University and participated as a lead instructor in the Roger Williams University Executive Learning Series Program with CVS. Mike, a graduate of Providence College and the US Naval War College, holds a master’s degree in National Security & Strategic Studies and completed a National Security Fellowship at The Fletcher School, Tufts University.

“Great leaders reconcile mission and people; they do so by taking care of their people first who then accomplish the mission.”

“Leadership is love. Great leaders seek out opportunities every day to sacrifice for their people in meaningful ways.”