Inever imagined myself intech.Even though Iwas strong in math and science in high school, when someone suggestedIgo into computer science-I couldn't see myself "making video games" or "having arole that wasn't people focused." Instead of jumping into a career path, Itook some time tofigure it out by working in thereal world.  

 Still, Iwas missing something-a purpose, a higher callingtohelpothers.I found all that, and more, when I joined the United States Marine Corps and served between 2007 and 2011. 

Anyservice member will tell you about the bond,camaraderie and sense of purpose that comes withserving your country.It's something that each of us embody and hold dear to our hearts -a shared experience thattranscends age, gender, sexual orientation,socioeconomic background,race and strips usdown to our souls.  

When I returned to civilian life, I hadnot much more than a couple of gym credits and a very hazy understanding of what Twitter was.The world had changed drastically but my time servingas an Administrative Chief(where I learnedqueuing theory and Six Sigma to redesign our out-processingmethodology) provided me with a new appreciation of technology. It led me to enrollin a single course at a local community college: Java I.The rest, as they say, is history. 

It has also always been important to me to support and give back tothe community, which led me to finding Cisco. I was amazed at how much Cisco was doingout in the world and their vow to corporate social responsibility. This was a company I wanted to be a part of.  

After joining Cisco through their IT University Program, I found myself in a different bucket of peers, mainly traditional college students who had not served. I felt at this time, my involvement with veterans was ending -but I was okay with this, assuming it was only natural. My goal had been achieved to find a meaningful post-service career as a Software Engineer at an amazing company. 

When I found myself yearning once again to be connected to veterans and to make a difference, Cisco helped answer the call and I realized I could blend both of my worlds and passions. I started out byjoiningour new hire experience and intern program. Later, a manager connected me to a stretch assignment focusing on the Cisco sponsored Cyber Vets USA. The project involved helping launchan industry-led initiative providing free online training, certification, and employment opportunities to transitioning service members and their spouses.  

I was amazed at how much Cisco was doing to actively engage, attract and encourage veteran talentinto a technology career. It was good to see that networks like this still existed -and in a way I had not previously seen. 

I began to networkwith passionate veterans that worked at Cisco, and through those connections wasselected as alead volunteer for the Valor Games Southeast(VGSE). The Valor Games (in typical years) isa Cisco sponsored three-day sports competition for veterans and members of the armed forceshosted in the Research Triangle Park area ofNorth Carolina. 

Immediately on the first day of volunteering, I felt like I had found my home. Surrounded by veterans and members of the Cisco family -I saw each was answering a higher callingto give back to their community.

In 2020, I hadthe honor of acting as the Cisco lead forVGSEwhich was turned into a virtual conference powered byCisco WebEx and WebEx Events. Through a grant I procured, our technology enabled the nonprofit tocontinueits core day-to-day operations as well asconnect, empower, and check in on their veteran athletes around the world.  

Now, Iamthe Global Co-Lead for the VETS Employee Resource Organization (ERO)at Cisco. As a lead, I cancombine mytechnical leadershipskills withmy passion for helping others. My experiencesand this rolehelpenable me toeducateour managers on how to leverage and promote veterantalent while we continueto grow Cisco as a topmilitaryfriendlyemployer.  

Even after leaving the Marine Corps -Cisco has empowered me tostay connected to the very thing that made me call the recruiting station all those years ago: service above self.  

So, did I see myself ever having a career in technology? No. But Cisco isthe place I have learned to stretch myself, network with others, and continue to give back to my community and to the veteran populationin ways I could haveneverfathomed.  

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