Project Management Skills Bridge the Gap for Job-Seeking Veterans
Many veterans possess valuable project management experience that can benefit corporate employers, according to research conducted by faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide.
In the “Armed Forces Project Management Talent Survey,” Drs. Tracey Richardson, Matthew Earnhardt and Jim Marion also found that 70 percent of U.S. military veterans say they have experience managing a project life cycle and 80 percent of veterans with 15 or more years of service have experience in planning.
Dr. Richardson and her team’s research are highlighted in this month’s issue of the Project Management Institute’s PM Network magazine.
Historically, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans had been higher than the country’s overall jobless rate. Several initiatives have been launched in the past five years to employ more veterans by equipping them with tools and resources for success. One project is PMI’s Preparing U.S. Military for Project Management Careers, an effort Dr. Richardson played an integral role in launching.
A U.S. Air Force veteran who spent 20 years as an aircraft maintenance officer, Dr. Richardson is passionate about helping veterans cross the divide between military and corporate culture. She credits her project management experience and Professional Management Professional (PMP) certification for opening doors to becoming a full-time faculty member who teaches courses in Embry-Riddle Worldwide’s undergraduate and graduate project management degree programs.