The Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program aims to assist service members in transitioning from the military to civilian employment through on-the-job training. As a participating provider, we offer service members a wide range of experiences in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, including comprehensive training programs tailored to project management, engineering, technology, and logistics. Our program offers professional mentors for each participant to provide guidance and support throughout the training program. SkillBridge also provides career opportunities for service members to transition into full-time roles within our firm based on their performance. We asked two of our participants to share their experience in the program and how this opportunity has impacted their career journey.

How did you bridge the skills you acquired as an active service member to a civilian role?

My background as a Norfolk District commander and engineer at the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provided a strong foundation, making my transition to the private sector a smooth process. My current and previous roles are similar, focusing on connecting people to projects, however, the main differentiator is that my previous role was on the client side of architectural firms. Now that I am on the business side at Dewberry, I have been learning the requirements to put together a proposal to win business within the federal agencies. Using my knowledge from USACE has been an advantage to help build the proposals.

As a space operations and military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, my abilities to take initiative and solve problems, work with teams, and translate complex spatial data into clear insights for our clients are relevant skills I have brought to Dewberry. At our firm, how we pull spatial data from several different sources, such as satellites, drones, and fixed-wing aircraft, and how we provide quality products is synonymous with my previous role in the Army. The difference between my previous and current roles is that I am not only providing products to Army professionals, but I am now also presenting them to federal, state, and local clients. We are constantly evolving our industry’s leading processes, which allows me to showcase my ability to work under tight deadlines, as I did in the Army. Finally, the collaboration at our firm with our internal and external teams is a component that contributes to the firm’s success. Similar to my experience in the Army, I am grateful to have found strong companionship among all types of industry professionals here at Dewberry.

What learning opportunities did you experience in the SkillBridge program?

Throughout the program, my primary focus was to learn about the firm’s processes in creating long-lead proposals, specifically in the civil work and water markets. This opportunity allowed me to learn what the standards are for reviewing resumes and project selections to be put into a proposal. This was an important aspect to learn as I was transitioning from the government side to the civilian industry. Throughout the program, I’ve had great mentors at Dewberry who invited me to shadow meetings, provided guidance on tasks that I was working on, and actively reached out to answer any questions that I had.

Dewberry’s mentorship focuses on teaching and providing opportunities for trial and error. The team doesn’t expect participants to know how to do everything by day one. Instead, Dewberry is invested in teaching participants the needed knowledge to be successful in their interested field by developing a flexible training plan that is tailored to each individual’s interests. In my mentorship experience, I was able to shadow the firm’s geospatial professionals for the Statewide Connecticut Lidar Project, review resources such as the standard operating procedures, and sit in on project meetings to learn more about the firm’s geospatial services.

How did your internship prepare you for your current role?

Coming from my Army role, I wasn’t fully aware of the level of effort that the AEC industry contributes to requests for proposals and sources sought notices, which are used by government agencies for market research and to solicit interest from small businesses in a project, until my experience with SkillBridge. In this program, I participated in a joint venture team to assist in strategizing for multiple award task order contracts. This hands-on experience gave me a firsthand look at Dewberry’s business development processes in action, including market analysis and proposal preparation. Now, in my full-time role, I’m directly applying what I learned in my internship to finalize our proposal for submission. The internship was an invaluable bridge between my military experience and the private sector, equipping me with the practical knowledge and strategic insight needed to contribute effectively. It made my transition to a full-time role a smooth process and reinforced my ability to help position our team for success in securing federal contracts.

After completing the training plan, it left me with a strong understanding of the firm’s internal processes, including meetings, administrative procedures, product templates, and project and analysis workflows. Once I completed SkillBridge and finished my termination of service from the Army, I was able to return to Dewberry and jump feet first into my full-time role. My internship prepared me to know what was expected of me and how to execute my tasks to the best of my ability.

What advice would you give to future service members who are interested in the SkillBridge program?

It is crucial to be an advocate for yourself. Make sure to express interest and reach out to professionals in your desired industry to start conversations. The SkillBridge program is a great opportunity for service members because it offers individuals the chance to learn about a position’s requirements and a company’s culture in order to make an informed decision on your next employment opportunity.

Start the planning process early. It is important to create a general timeline of when you’re leaving the military and when you can apply for SkillBridge, build out your LinkedIn account, identify companies that you’re interested in doing your SkillBridge program with, and network with professionals.