Roderick Steward is a highly accomplished leader, instructor, and strategist whose 21-year active-duty service in the United States Air Force laid the foundation for a career rooted in excellence, human performance, and continuous improvement. Born in Houston, Texas, Roderick emerged as a natural leader early on—an eldest of four brothers committed to speaking up for those whose voices often went unheard.
As a Master Instructor in Aerospace and Operational Physiology and a Human Factors expert at Travis AFB, Roderick played a critical role in aviation safety, accident investigation, and training programs in high-risk environments. He became a subject matter expert in altitude physiology, human systems integration, and operational risk management, while also being a decorated veteran with numerous military awards, including back-to-back recognition as the U.S. Air Force Human Factors Instructor of the Year.
Following his military retirement, Roderick transitioned into high-impact roles across healthcare, insurance, and finance sectors. He served as a Senior Lean Executive Coach and Consultant at Sutter Health, where he led large-scale organizational transformation and helped drive over $60M in operational improvements. At Centene Corporation, he spearheaded enterprise-wide Lean Six Sigma programs and mentored a new generation of process improvement leaders.
Currently serving as Principal Process Architect Lead at Golden 1 Credit Union, Roderick leads digital transformation initiatives through strategic process design, automation, and value stream mapping. His expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and executive coaching has made him a trusted advisor in both corporate and clinical settings.
Roderick holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is pursuing his MBA in Organizational Leadership. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Master Instructor, and Certified Public Manager, as well as the published author of Stewards of Excellence: Leadership Strategies for a Successful Military Transition and Rewarding Civilian Career.
Roderick’s journey reflects a commitment to excellence, service, and strategic impact—an embodiment of leadership grounded in both discipline and compassion.
