Saturday, November 30, 2019
Tell me about your current role at Yale University?
I have been the Workers’ Compensation Manager at Yale since June of 2018. I view one of my primary responsibilities within this role to be the facilitation of necessary support and services to ensure that any employee who is injured on the job can return to full health and their regular job as soon as possible.
Would you share some of your military experience and transition to the private sector?
My military experience began as a child, as my father was an ex-Marine Drill Instructor. After I graduated from high school in 2003, I too elected to enlist in the Marine Corps, and served as Crew Chief on the CH-46 helicopter from 2003 – 2009. During this time, I deployed twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. I at first found transitioning out of the military and into an academic environment to be incredibly challenging, as the two cultures couldn’t be more different. I used this difficulty to help found the Veterans Student Organization at UConn, and established a network of student-veterans to help facilitate our successful integration and assimilation into the world of Academia and civilian life in general.
How does your military experience impact your position at Yale?
Since the Marine Corps culture has been so deeply ingrained in me since my childhood, I often times have difficultly identifying the traits I utilize professionally which can be attributed to this experience; they’re mostly second-nature. However, many of my peers have commented on their observation that I tend to remain calm under pressure or duress. I like to think I can thank my time in service for this attribute.
Could you discuss some of the intangible skills that veterans like yourself bring to an organization?
All branches of our armed services create a culture that cultivates a body of service members who are tenaciously goal-oriented, take responsibility seriously, and are not afraid to make decisions. Veterans also rely on a broad range of unique attributes, experiences, and characteristics which can contribute greatly to the diversity of thought here at Yale.
What do you think about the Yale Veterans Network?
I am 100% on-board with the vision and mission of the Yale Veterans Network but believe we there is a lot of ground that stands to be gained in making Yale University an employer of choice for veterans, reservists, and members of the National Guard. I look forward to continuing to participate in the YVN and leveraging the tenaciously goal-oriented veterans who already call Yale University home to make this vision a reality!
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