Robert Palomares ’27 EMBA: From Technical Expert to Transformational Leader

A Calling That Led Him Home

For Robert Palomares, Notre Dame wasn’t just a school he admired, it was a name he heard throughout his childhood.

Every Sunday, at the end of Mass announcements, one voice always found a way to mention it. The priest who baptized him, guided him through his sacraments, married his parents, and remained a constant presence throughout his life was a proud Notre Dame alumnus. Father Robert Villegas, Father Bob to those he knew, talked about the University often — sharing stories and memories that stayed with Robert long after the pews emptied.

“He even bought me my first Notre Dame shirt,” Robert recalls. “I wore it all the time. It was the most comfortable shirt I’d ever owned.”

In 2024, Father Bob returned to Notre Dame, coming back to campus after decades of ministry. Just a short while later, in July 2025, he passed away following a brief illness.

It wasn’t until Robert read Father Bob’s obituary, that he realized how many institutions the priest had served, how many places he had been, and yet, Notre Dame was the school he spoke about with unmatched reverence.

“That’s when it really hit me,” Robert says. “He’d seen a lot, and he had done a lot, and for him to love Notre Dame that much told me everything I needed to know.”

Father Bob passed away just weeks before Robert arrived on campus for orientation. Too soon for the surprise Robert had planned: showing up to greet Father Bob as a Notre Dame student at last. While the reunion never came, Robert’s calling to Notre Dame remained.

“Once I got here,” he says, “I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”

 

From Technical Expert to Purpose-Driven Leader

Robert entered the Notre Dame Executive MBA program with a clear sense of what he needed next. With a master’s degree in engineering and more than a decade in defense contracting, he had reached the ceiling of purely technical roles. He knew how to solve complex problems, but advancing into leadership, management, and eventually executive-level positions would require a different skill set.

“I needed something to push me to the next level,” he says. “Not just more technical knowledge, but how to lead people, understand business, and see the bigger picture.”

Today, Robert works for Raytheon in the intelligence community, supporting highly classified satellite systems. His work is demanding, isolated, and tightly regulated: no phones, no devices, no sharing details outside the facility.

“It’s a completely different world,” he explains. “You drive into the desert, work all day, and drive out. You can’t talk about your job. You can’t even go to lunch.” The EMBA offered something he didn’t realize he was missing: options.

“I’ve been in this world my entire career,” he says. “This program gives me the flexibility to stay and advance, or the option to step into something new.”

Finding Belonging in an Unlikely Place

Despite the confidence he brings to his work, walking onto Notre Dame’s campus for the first time was overwhelming. “I was terrified,” Robert admits. “I thought, ‘I don’t belong here.’”

That feeling faded quickly. As he met his new class made up of doctors, lawyers, senior military leaders, and executives, he expected intimidation. Instead, he found humility, warmth, and a genuine willingness to help.

“No one is arrogant,” he says. “Everyone is accomplished, but no one makes you feel less than. If I texted anyone in my cohort for help, I know they’d respond.”

That sense of community has become one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. From late-night group chats to friendships formed during the Ireland immersion, Robert describes the cohort as deeply connected and values-driven.

“There’s just something different about people at Notre Dame,” he says. “You feel it right away.”

Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow

Robert didn’t expect the program to impact his work so quickly — but it already has.

Just weeks into the leadership curriculum, he began applying what he learned immediately: how to present himself in meetings, how to adapt to different personalities, even where to sit at the table. “They’re small things,” he says. “But they make a huge difference.”

Not long after starting the program, Robert was promoted to a lead role, overseeing engineers across software, antennas, and ground systems, a major shift from focusing solely on spacecraft.

“Now I’m responsible for the entire system,” he explains. “And the timing couldn’t have been better. What I’m learning at Notre Dame is exactly what I need right now.”

Life-Changing, by Design

When asked how he would describe the Notre Dame Executive MBA in one sentence, Robert doesn’t hesitate.

“Life-changing.”

The program is demanding, especially while balancing work, travel, and a growing family, but he has no regrets. From learning directly from world-class faculty, to walking around campus with a backpack, attending games as a student, and building a network he never imagined possible, the experience has exceeded every expectation.

“I wear the gear everywhere,” he laughs. “Before, I was just a fan. Now I get to say I’m a student.”

For Robert, the journey to Notre Dame was shaped by faith, memory, and purpose. The journey forward is being shaped by leadership, community, and the confidence to grow beyond what once felt like the limit.

And in many ways, it feels like coming home.

 

Are you ready for your next step?
Learn more about Notre Dame’s Executive MBA program.