How training, hiring veterans builds a stronger workforce

By Chris Cortez, vice president of Military Affairs at Microsoft Corp.

Veterans Day is a special time for me as a veteran. All across Microsoft today, and every day, we share our gratitude for the contributions of those who’ve served in America’s armed forces. We also recall the sacrifices of those not with us.

While we honor veterans for their past service, we look to their future. And today we want to highlight some veterans here at Microsoft — through the words of their managers — and their contributions to our culture.

My 33 years in the Marine Corps proved to me that service members have skills that are second to none in terms of leadership, teamwork, discipline, problem-solving and work ethic, among others. These traits are exactly what Microsoft needs, and what the U.S. private sector needs, to fill a growing demand for IT skills.

That’s why we started Microsoft Software & Systems Academy (MSSA), which prepares service members for new achievements as they transition to civilian life — and meaningful careers in the tech industry.

Three years ago we launched MSSA with one cohort at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. We’ve gained momentum and are projecting to expand to serve nine regions and 14 bases in the coming years. Our three newest locations, at Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, welcomed their first cohorts last month.

The success of our 382 graduates (and counting) at high-paying, in-demand jobs — here or with one of our nearly 160 industry partners supporting MSSA — proves why we think this is a great path to a civilian career.

I believe America and the tech industry have a responsibility to our veterans, and at Microsoft we’re dedicated to doing our part. That commitment extends from the many employees who volunteer their time mentoring MSSA participants to the hiring managers who recognize their abilities, and all the way to the leader of our Human Resources team.

One of our strong allies is Kathleen Hogan, executive vice president of Human Resources. She champions MSSA because she sees the connection between this program and the company’s broader strategy for enhancing diversity — which grows each time we hire from this pool of exceptional talent.

“Service members offer incredible talent and experience to our company and the tech industry. Beyond their job skills, their diverse backgrounds are bringing energy and unique perspectives into our company,” Hogan says. “They’re helping to fuel our creativity and transform our culture.”

A more diverse work culture is just one way Microsoft supports the military community. Direct grants are another. Recently the Microsoft Philanthropies team gave the USO a grant to upgrade and support its servers in the cloud. With the Microsoft Azure deployment, the USO will be better equipped to deliver programs and services to service members and their families worldwide. In addition to moving its servers to Azure, the USO is looking to build a mobile app that will foster engagement between service members and the USO so they benefit fully from USO offerings.

We also support the work of Team Red, White and Blue, an organization committed to helping veterans connect with their local communities through physical and social activities, such as the Old Glory Relay, a coast-to-coast relay that ended today in Tampa, Florida.

Finally, let’s close our Veterans Day celebration with a look at 10 living reasons why companies like ours need veterans — through the words of the managers of 10 outstanding employees who joined us from the military, and who contribute something special to our mission every day.

Rick Weil, Engineering Program Manager “Rick’s natural leadership as an officer in the Marines has given him power each and every day to motivate and drive the right level of business results we need for SharePoint Online to be successful. Veterans bring a mindset that is so critical to success, especially in the services business. You work hard until the job is done, take pride in your work and give it your all. You strive to make others great and achieve something greater than yourself.” — Cory Burns, Rick’s manager

Kathleen Voelbel, Program Manager “Kathleen has fantastic data analysis skills. She takes large data streams and drills into specific areas to make our service more reliable, better-performing and cheaper to run. Running a business-critical service like Office 365 requires people with qualities that veterans often have: commitment, integrity, discipline, self-sacrifice and a striving for excellence. In a critical incident, you need people who ‘run toward the fire,’ as opposed to assuming someone else will handle it. Veterans have this tendency, which is highly valued.” — Matt Gossage, Kathleen’s manager

Ryan Burns, Software Engineer “Ryan shows dedication, responsibility and confidence to take on new challenges. The military trains people to lead and work collaboratively in the toughest of situations — traits that are essential to succeed in today’s competitive business world. As a result, veterans have a great track record of being successful contributors and exceptional leaders in the tech industry. And their skills are particularly applicable to software development, because it is all about solving complex business problems.” — Raza Syed, Ryan’s manager

Rich Witte, Account Executive “Rich is always learning, steps up to the task at hand and takes on any challenge put in front of him. When I think about veterans, I think of leaders who deal with adversity, appreciate what they have and always work hard. They’re exposed to the newest technology because the military is typically the innovation and testing lab. Many have traveled and lived around the globe — and with that experience they bring a much more diverse perspective to problem-solving.” — Russ Caggiano, Rich’s manager

Rich Kocher, Senior Security Program Manager “Rich and other vets on our team already know what ingredients the recipe for success requires, and they constantly apply that knowledge to reach goals. I know what was assigned will get done on time, done right and done well. Veterans come to a company with validated core skills based on trusted training — with the added bonus of having a matured work ethic and a developed, upstanding character honed by real-world experiences.” — Randy Cahoon, Rich’s manager

Peter Cowman, Incident Manager “When a service issue affects Microsoft, Peter is there with his quick decisions to pull the team together. The skills veterans bring to our company with a growth mindset are immense. At a young age, they lead teams and develop critical decision-making skills. Their dedicated attitude and ability to learn and navigate corporate procedures in a respectful and creative way opens new ideas and innovations at the company.” — Melissa Roellich, Peter’s manager

Mark Switzer, Software Engineer II “Anytime there’s a crisis, Mark is a go-to person. He stays cool, collected and entirely focused on mitigating the problem at hand. He has a very strong sense of not just doing the right thing for our customers, but also doing it in the right manner. I appreciate that being a veteran contributes to a strong sense of duty, dependability, a sense of team and calmness under fire. The path Mark took shaped him to be the engineer he is today.” — Tianyu Xie, Mark’s manager

Ryen Macababbad, Program Manager “I appreciate the way Ryen effortlessly creates numerous and productive relationships with her customers and with others across Microsoft, like our field sales and consultant counterparts. She is a role model for collaboration and helping others. Veterans are proven, capable people who put setbacks and challenges into proper perspective. They understand the importance of teamwork and have direct experience that people achieve more by working together.” — Sue Bohn, Ryen’s manager

Anthony Seo, Software Engineer “Anthony demonstrates a thirst for knowledge and proactively takes action to build his technical knowledge and achieve results. He already had soft skills that other new hires may not have had, such as communication and confidence. Based on their unique experiences, veterans bring a perspective substantially different from that of the typical new employee. Action and results orientation are key attributes I’ve observed.” — Jeremy Britten, Anthony’s manager

Andrew DeBerry, Senior Program Manager “Andrew is a committed team player with a passion for technology and global trends. He is highly collaborative and places the value of team success over individual recognition. In the fast-paced and dynamic tech field, vets bring assets to the workplace that include a global perspective, agility and the ability to lead diverse teams to deliver maximum results.” — Anthony Russell, Andrew’s manager