Wilson begins his career with Boeing in 1943 and advanced rapidly. His first assignment of note was as project engineer on the B-52 and then was general manager of the proposal team for the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile program. Wilson became a vice president in 1963 and was put in charge of planning the boeing corporate headquarters in 1964. He was named executive vice president in 1966 and president in 1968.Wilson became the CEO in 1969 board chair in 1972