Helping 25,000 veterans and military families build careers in skilled trades

Most of my career has been in the U.S. Navy. I served for seven years as a nuclear-trained operator and 13 years as a submarine officer. Transitioning to a civilian role was a tall order — and if not for the help and support of my network, I’m not sure I would have found a role that made the most of my expertise while offering a feeling of accomplishment. Luckily for me, my former shipmate helped me land an interview for a role managing data center engineering operations.

It turns out, a lot of the skills you pick up running a nuclear submarine (planning and leading a mission, working closely with technicians, exercising sound judgment) are the same kinds of skills that come in handy when your job is to oversee data center operations. And now Google is making it easier for veterans to make career transitions to high-growth careers like mine.

Today, Google is launching a commitment to help 25,000 veterans and military family members build rewarding careers in skilled trades. Funding and support from Google.org will go to the organizations who know this community best: Hiring Our Heroes, Student Veterans of America (SVA), and Home Builders Institute (HBI). Together, they’re offering hands-on pre-apprenticeships, career coaching, and even direct job placements.

As a leader for Google’s data centers in Ohio and Indiana, I know there’s a major need for these types of professionals. Currently there are hundreds of thousands of skilled trade roles open across the U.S. just waiting to be filled. These are jobs like master electrician, lead pipefitter, and project manager — high-growth careers that offer long-term financial stability.

But beyond just the growing need, these roles also make the most of the kinds of skills veterans and military families know better than anyone — skills like problem-solving under pressure, teamwork, and getting a job done right.

Google has a long history of supporting veterans and the skilled trades. Earlier this year, Google joined forces with BlackRock, Ford, and Carhartt to launch the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades. With funding from Google.org, Google also supported the electrical training Alliance (etA) to put AI-powered learning tools on the trade floor, and provided funding to SVA to bring Google Career Certificates and AI courses to veterans nationwide. This is all part of Google.org’s broader AI Opportunity Fund for the United States, ensuring Americans benefit from this evolving technology.

With today’s announcement, they’re going even further and making it easier than ever for veterans and military families to access opportunities that will lead to rewarding careers.

I will always be grateful for the path I found after my service, and today I’m glad to see that even more veterans and their families will be able to access career opportunities that continue to offer a chance to serve their communities and country.