SPAWAR Sponsors Networking Event for Transitioning Veterans

By Tina Stillions

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) sponsored a networking event Tuesday to help transitioning veterans from Camp Pendleton, the Naval Medical Center and National Veterans Transition Services, Inc.'s REBOOT Workshop develop contacts in the business community and find employment.

The event was the seventh quarterly networking opportunity SPAWAR has sponsored. Comprising local San Diego government organizations and private industry, the event is part of a national effort to provide employment support and mentoring for wounded warriors and transitioning veterans. Leadership at SPAWAR have made a commitment to helping veterans, in particular those who are wounded, ill or injured, find employment as they transition from active duty. 

Patrick Sullivan, SPAWAR’s executive director, provided opening remarks during the panel session. He discussed some of the hiring challenges the government is facing in light of sequestration and mandated hiring freezes.

“SPAWAR is committed to helping our wounded, ill and injured service members find employment,” said Sullivan. “Since 2010, we have hit many of our hiring targets. Prior to the hiring freeze this year, we brought on board 48 folks. Since we are working under the limitations of sequestration, we have had to shift our focus to nonpaid internships and expanding our outreach efforts.”

The networking event was developed in conjunction with private industry to help veterans as they transition to civilian employment. Veterans often lack some of the job search skills necessary to interview and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. SPAWAR works with organizations to mentor veterans and provide the kind of support necessary in today’s tough job market. 

According to Navy Capt. George Byrd, who leads the region's wounded warrior hiring efforts and moderated the day's panel session, networking is the key to success. He said job hunters need to get out of their comfort zone, really get to know themselves and analyze their skill set.

“The key to success is relationship building,” said Byrd. “In many ways, looking for employment is a lot like real estate. It’s networking, networking, networking.”

Byrd said the goal of the panel session is to provide REBOOT Workshop graduates in the audience with information on SPAWAR and working for the government, insight into what companies in the defense industry look for in new employees and what companies are doing to hire wounded, ill and injured service members. He also hoped to gather feedback from veterans present at the event and have them share their experience about the transition process.

Ken Delozier is a Marine Corps veteran and said he sent more than 400 resumes during his job search. He was eventually offered a position as an information assurance project manager with the Program Executive Office, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence.

“You need to go into an interview with the mindset that I can help this company,” said Delozier. “You also have to be yourself and go in with an open mind. They are not only interviewing you, but you are interviewing them, too.”

More than 17 businesses, from large corporations to small businesses and nonprofits, participated in the networking portion of the event. Representatives from Indus Technology, Inc., Lockheed Martin, Client Solution Architects and the REBOOT Workshop, to name a few, were on hand to provide resources for veterans and wounded warriors interested in mentoring advice or employment opportunities. 

A dozen graduates from the REBOOT Workshop were in the audience to ask questions, network and hand out their resumes to potential employers. The REBOOT program was started in 2010 by National Veterans Transition Services, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to assisting veterans in adjusting to civilian life and securing meaningful employment. The three week workshop consists of training in developing interviewing techniques and advice on how to sell their skill to future employers. It is intended to augment the military’s Transition Assistance Program, assist with the networking process and help bridge the gap between active duty and civilian employment.

“People and companies that want to be here are here today,” said Mark McLean, SPAWAR’s event organizer. “Each time we do this, we have more participants from industry stepping up to the plate and wanting to participate and work with our nation’s wounded warriors. I really enjoy supporting this event and those of us from SPAWAR certainly have the experience to make it happen.”

The Navy's Information Dominance Systems Command, SPAWAR participates regularly in events and programs for wounded warriors with a goal of providing support to the men and women who have served their nation. The senior leadership panel discussion and networking forum is part of an ongoing series of programs that facilitate employment and mentoring opportunities for wounded warriors and transitioning veterans.