DETROIT -

General Motors turned to someone with a military background to be its first chief diversity officer.

Accepting the role Monday was Capt. Kenneth Barrett, who retired from the U.S. Navy.

“Diversity is and has been a key component of our success including diversity of work force and diversity of customer base — it can only make us a better company,” stated GM chairman and chief executive officer Dan Akerson.

“That’s why we’ve created this new position and filled it with a proven leader like Ken,” Akerson continued. “His strengths and track record in diversity will help us achieve the leadership position we’re committed to reaching in this crucial area of the business.”

Barrett possesses 14 years of executive experience, including five years of award-winning performance as the U.S. Navy’s Diversity Director. 

Before joining GM, the automaker highlighted Barrett served as the Under Secretary of Defense’s Acting Director, Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, in Washington, D.C. 

Prior to that time, Barrett had five years of award-winning performance as the Navy’s diversity director, where he achieved historic levels of minority and female officer additions and transformational work-life balance initiatives.

In 1984, Barrett began his career with the Navy. After commissioning through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps., he held positions in engineering and operations.

“Ken Barrett is a strong, yet humble leader who took the Navy from being a pack player to having the most-effective diversity department in the entire federal government,” noted Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc.

“His knowledge on diversity issues is second to none and his experience puts him in the top 1 percent of all senior diversity executives,” Visconti added.

Under Barrett’s leadership, GM mentioned the Navy’s Strategic Diversity Working Group was selected as the nation’s No. 1 Diversity Council by the Association of Diversity Councils. The Navy also was selected as the Top Federal Agency by DiversityInc. 

For his efforts as lead of the Navy’s Task Force/Life Work, the OEM also noted Barrett and his team were recognized with the Ted Childs Work Life Excellence Award. 

Barrett’s other personal awards include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two stars), Navy Commendation Medal (three stars) and the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as many other unit and campaign awards.

The company went on to stated Eric Peterson, vice president of corporate diversity, will report to Barrett and continue the focus on GM’s outreach to diverse communities. Meanwhile, Barrett will report to Cynthia Brinkley, vice president of global human resources.