Get to know Aric Sherwood

Aric Sherwood recently joined PEO EIS as Deputy Project Manager of Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems, a business mission area supported by more than 400 people. He grew up in Punxsutawney, a small town in western Pennsylvania. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment for four years. He previously worked for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology), Defense Information Systems Agency and the United Special Operations Command. 

He answered five questions about his career and life.

Have you read any good books lately?
I just finished James Kerr's "Legacy," which explains why the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team is the best in the world. It's about selecting the right people. If you are the best rugby player in the world, but your personality doesn't mesh with the team's, you don't become an All Blacks. At USSOCOM, we had a saying: we would rather hire the right person and train them to do the job than hire a qualified person that doesn't fit.

Who inspires you?
My grandfather, a child of Irish and German immigrants, is a self-made man. He is not a millionaire, but he made a very comfortable life for his six kids and wife by working hard in the construction industry. He never met a person he didn't like and sees value in everyone. I aspire to be more like him. Everyone has value. We need ditch diggers just as much as bankers.

How would you like to be remembered?
I don't crave the spotlight and am not concerned about my legacy. I would much rather promote the people who are doing the work so they get the accolades. My job is to deflect face shots that are coming our way and take responsibility for the things we are not doing well.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?
When I served in the Army Rangers, we read a lot of paperback books about the Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols in Vietnam. I would love to go back and meet some of those Rangers.

What's the best advice you received?
Do the things you have to do and then do the things you want to do. I fail at this all the time. If you get up in the morning and do the things that need to be done that day, the rest of the day is yours.