Category: Private Citizen — Corporate Director Role: Independent Director, Caterpillar Inc. Board Tenure: 2017 – present Committee Memberships: Compensation & Human Resources Committee (Chair); Nominating & Governance Committee; Executive Committee Profile Type: Board Member Accountability — Anchor B (Documented Organizational Leadership)

Basis for Inclusion: Rayford Wilkins, Jr. holds a documented governance role at Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar Inc. is a major industrial manufacturer that made documented political donations to Trump-aligned entities. Caterpillar has significant government defense contract relationships (military vehicles) and is substantially affected by federal infrastructure spending, trade policy, and export controls. This profile documents the factual governance relationship, not the subject’s personal political views.

Subject Classification: Private Citizen / Corporate Director. Board membership is a matter of public record (SEC filings, proxy statements). This profile documents only the governance role and its connection to documented corporate political activity.

What is NOT the basis for inclusion: Rayford Wilkins, Jr.’s personal political opinions, party affiliation, public statements, or any protected speech are NOT the basis for inclusion.

Biographical Overview

Rayford Wilkins, Jr. retired from AT&T Inc. as Chief Executive Officer of AT&T’s Diversified Businesses segment after a 38-year career with the company. In that role he oversaw multiple AT&T business units and held various senior leadership positions across the company’s operations. His decades-long career in corporate leadership of a major telecommunications conglomerate involved managing large employee workforces, complex compensation structures, and multi-stakeholder governance. Wilkins joined the Caterpillar Board of Directors in 2017 and chairs the Compensation & Human Resources Committee — the committee responsible for overseeing executive compensation and human capital management. He also serves on the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Executive Committee, giving him significant influence across multiple governance functions.

Board Role and Governance Authority

• Company: Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT)
• Board tenure: 2017 – present
• Committee assignments: Compensation & Human Resources Committee (Chair); Nominating & Governance Committee; Executive Committee
• Prior employer: AT&T Inc. — CEO, Diversified Businesses (retired after 38-year career)

Parent Corporate Donor Profile

This profile is a governance-accountability companion to the Caterpillar corporate donor profile.

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Investigative trail pointers (public records)

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Sources

• Caterpillar Inc. DEF 14A Proxy Statement, 2025; SEC EDGAR