The entire company attended a retirement luncheon today to bid Joe Dyer, iRobot’s Chief Strategy Officer, farewell after nine years with the company. Joe served as a three-star Vice Admiral in the US Navy, commander of the Naval Air Systems Command, and commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center. Earlier in his career he was both a naval aviation chief engineer and the Navy’s chief test pilot. Several stories were shared by colleagues. My favorite was about a sailing voyage by the iRobot executives aboard Joe’s boat destined for Bermuda from Maryland. Apparently, as they were exiting the Chesapeake Bay they were radioed by the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier to give a wide berth (any small or large vessel failing to yield to an aircraft carrier will be shot out of the water as a matter of defensive protocol). Joe got on the radio, identified himself, and stated his destination. With no further communication, the Enterprise turned from its course to make way for Joe’s sailboat.