DRG assists SWOSU to grow a new champion for Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense industry

Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense industry is the secondlargest and fastest-growing industry in the state. As a result of this exponential growth, the industry’s biggest challenge is recruiting and providing talent to support the workforce demand.

DRG has taken several proactive steps to help higher education within Oklahoma expand resources, increase industry knowledge, and recruit talent to keep the aerospace and defense industry growing.

DRG currently supports efforts with the University of Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense MBA program. Leadership from DRG, including our founder and CEO, hosts a cohort of students every semester at DRG corporate office to hear about industry trends and advances from our leadership. DRG then takes that same cohort to Weatherford every semester to tour the Thomas P. Stafford Air and Space Museum and visit the campus of Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) to hear about their Aerospace and Defense Workforce Development Program.

DRG supports SWOSU in several different ways. One is as a founding sponsor and contributor to their Aerospace and Defense Workforce Development Program. DRG leadership assisted SWOSU in the creation of the program that launched in early 2022 alongside the dedication of the Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford Archives. The program has put SWOSU at the forefront among Oklahoma universities as a leader within the aerospace and defense industry.

In less than a year of launching, the university has successfully expanded its partnerships with aerospace and defense companies and Federal Agencies. This has helped

SWOSU continue to showcase the university’s offerings and support to industry within Oklahoma. DRG leadership believes the Oklahoma aerospace and defense industry thrives when universities are supplying local talent to the industry.

“SWOSU sought to tell anew the exciting story of our graduates who work in aerospace and defense—our philanthropic collaboration with longtime benefactors DRG has made possible the effective sharing of our rich heritage, engaged present, and bright future in this critical occupational area,” said SWOSU President Diana R. Lovell. “We are grateful to DRG and eager to build on this partnership’s success as we work together to align SWOSU’s programs to the workforce needs of Oklahoma!”

The program helps the university share its rich history supporting the industry that went largely unnoticed until DRG teamed with SWOSU leadership to help highlight the program’s growth and increased potential.

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A full-circle journey from SWOSU to DRG

As a family-owned business, Brian Busey (SWOSU Class of 2005) and Philip Busey Jr. (SWOSU Class of 2004) work together with their father, Phil G. Busey, to lead DRG.

Philip Busey Jr. credits the education he received at SWOSU for preparing him to help lead DRG.

“SWOSU is a great university because it’s a smaller school with a low student-to-professor ratio compared to other schools in the region,” said Philip Busey Jr. “The high learning engagement between students and faculty is one of the reasons it produces so many talented individuals.”

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A decade ago, Christopher Lloyd, Erik Salazar and Phi Nguyen found friendship through Leadership Oklahoma City’s Leading Oklahoma’s Young Adult Leaders (LOYAL) program.

Today, these three remain best friends while supporting Oklahoma City through a variety of board involvement with local non-profits.

“Our passion for OKC was one of the qualities that really brought me, Phi and Christopher together,” said Erik. “We are fortunate to live in a place that provides many opportunities for people to be involved, and early on in our professional careers, we realized it was important to us to use our platforms and resources to give back to a city that offers so much to its people.”

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What began as volunteering at and attending fundraising events evolved to deeper relationships with local organizations. A large focus of Phi, Christopher and Erik’s time is spent supporting the arts through service at Allied Arts, Arts Council OKC, Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

“The arts play a critical role in the cultural fabric of OKC, and I’m proud to have the privilege to serve in leadership roles with the OKC Ballet and Oklahoma Contemporary. These institutions provide a sense of belonging and identity for our city,” said Christopher.

With expertise and experience in fields of finance, non-profit, marketing, videography and urban place management, these