From the confidential to the top secret, defense missions demand more than just technical capabilities. Success hinges on an intimate understanding of military operations, culture, lingo, and more. That’s why veterans are uniquely positioned to complement any defense and intelligence mission.
Akima’s Veteran Advantage
At Akima, veterans are our secret weapon. With veterans making up over 26% of our workforce, we’re able to bring unparalleled insights and knowledge to our defense partnerships.
As our team members have worn the uniform and executed critical missions, they understand our clients’ specific challenges and opportunities. This firsthand experience translates into major wins, like:
- Increased efficiency and operational gains for the U.S. Army
- Improving quality of life for Air Force pilots
- Innovative credentialing solutions for the National Maritime Center
Since Akima seamlessly integrates with military teams, we’re able to foster stronger partnerships and smoother collaborations — leading to targeted solutions for a variety of defense and intelligence needs, from IT and systems engineering to facilities management and aerospace solutions.
From Active Duty to Akima
[As an American Legion Employer of the Year], we’re proud to offer veterans multiple opportunities to continue serving their country by supporting federal government clients with their unique skills and experience. (Bill Monet, President and CEO of Akima)
To further serve our clients, our company, and our country, we’ve steadily added more military expertise to our civilian teams by hiring veterans. We’ve accomplished this through specialized programs like SkillBridge and Army PaYs, which support veterans throughout their career transitions.
SkillBridge Success: Steven’s Story
The SkillBridge Program is a Department of Defense initiative that helps military members gain valuable work experience with companies like Akima during their last 180 days of service. Thanks to this program, we’re able to bring valuable talent to our teams by hiring veterans like Steven Richardson.
After 28 years in the Air Force — including 23 years of active duty — Steven knew it was time for something new. The aircraft maintenance field technician had worked on military planes in Texas, North Carolina, and finally in Colorado, where he served in the Colorado National Guard.
While exploring SkillBridge position locations, Steven found an opportunity close to home that allowed him to continue growing the skills he’d gained throughout his long career. After completing the program, he was hired full-time as an aircraft production superintendent at Akima.
The SkillBridge Program was phenomenal — I was able to use the skills I know, and ease into the civilian sector doing more or less the same thing. With the experience I gained through SkillBridge, I could succeed right out of the gate.” (Steven Richardson)
With programs like SkillBridge, we’re able to find experienced candidates to fill specialized roles at Akima, all while easing the career transition for veterans. “We haven’t even tipped the scales on what we can do,” says Ginny Glasco, senior director of Recruiting. “Going forward, we can start advertising for key positions across the country.”
PaYS Program: A Bright Future for Soldiers
In addition to the Skillbridge program, we’re a proud partner of the US Army’s Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) Program. PaYS is a recruitment initiative that helps soldiers transition into civilian careers after completing their service. Through this program, soldiers can connect with companies like Akima, which have pledged to consider them for job opportunities.
Soldiers who participate in PaYS can further hone their skills in leadership, teamwork, and technical work. In turn, we’re able to recruit from a pool of strong talent and bolster our teams with new insights, ways of working, and experiences. This directly translates into mission success for our clients.
Partner with Akima for Defense Mission Success
Partnering with veteran-powered defense contractors ensures collaboration with teams that truly understand the complexities of defense missions, leading to more innovative, efficient, and effective support for America’s security initiatives.
Since Akima seamlessly integrates with military teams, we’re able to foster stronger partnerships and smoother collaborations — leading to targeted solutions for a variety of defense and intelligence needs, from IT and systems engineering to facilities management and aerospace solutions.
Ready to experience the Akima advantage? Contact us to learn how our veteran-powered teams can support your defense initiatives.
