My Syneos Health Story:

Military Background

I was a career US Navy Officer. I served in squadrons flying the SH-60B helicopter and embarked on US Navy ships on a variety of overseas deployments and missions. I had a number of rewarding and challenging assignments, including Squadron Commanding Officer, Navigator onboard the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier, and Captain of the USS San Antonio. I was stationed primarily on the east coast of the US (Florida and Virginia) but also enjoyed tours of duty in California and Colorado.

Transition to Civilian Life

Making the transition was challenging. I entered the Navy right after college and spent the next 30 years on active duty. So, the transition from military to the civilian career meant a brand-new way of life for me and my family. Fortunately, I had a lot of assistance from a variety of organizations and individuals to help guide me through the process. That being said, the transition is a journey, not just a single event in time. After four years I am still learning about myself and life after the military. 

Working at Syneos Health

After the Navy, I was looking for an employer that would give me an opportunity to apply my skills and experience from the military into a role that would be important to the mission of the company and reward me personally and professionally. I looked across a variety of industries and roles and wanted to keep my options open and find an opportunity where I could learn and grow. I also wanted to find an employer with a team-focus, structure and camaraderie that I experienced in the military.

At Syneos Health I found a great job! I work in the Transition Management Office (TMO) where we realize the company’s strategy by turning vision into action. We work with senior leaders to identify the outcomes that they want to achieve, and we build and lead teams to deliver those outcomes. The culture and teamwork within Syneos Health has been supportive and truly fantastic. I feel like the leadership skills that I bring from the military have been both appreciated and needed within the teams that I lead, and my fellow employees have been very helpful in taking time help me understand the details around the CRO industry and the business organization within Syneos.

Advice

My advice to those looking to make the transition is to reach out to as many people as you can and learn as much as you can about the opportunities that are out there. Keep your mind open and learn, and never pass up an opportunity to tell someone about yourself and your background. Don’t worry about finding what you think is the perfect job immediately – the first job is just part of the learning process, and you will discover so much along the way and continue to grow once you begin a new job. Reach out to veterans for support – most companies have a veterans employee resource group and almost all have veterans in their workforce. Seek them out for support to learn more about the company and how your skills may apply to their specific organization or industry.