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62 G.I. JOBS | OCTOBER 2016 | GIJOBS.COM Age: 41 Military Service: Major (O-4), Army (1993-2013) MOS: Military Police (31A) Education: Bachelor's degree, criminal justice, Columbia College, 2000 Master's degree, business and organizational security management, Webster University, 2007 Program Manager, VA/VE, Eaton BRAD STAI What do you do? I direct cross-functional teams responsible for executing product cost reduction programs, which includes maintaining the project schedule, scope, cost parameters and meeting quality requirements. Best advice for transiāĻoning service members? Start early, network as much as you can and know what you want to do. Leading something or someone is not a job. Find something you want to do and are qualified for and pursue it. Civilians can't make a job for you and really don't know what we do in the military. Make the connection for them and they will get it. And lastly, you can't start at the top. Your knowledge of the business you are entering is most likely very limited and the company is taking a risk hiring you hoping you can get it and be an asset for them. I always thought I could do some big title job right out of the Army, but my two years spent in manufacturing as a supervisor really taught me a lot about the lighting business and gave me the personal knowledge to be a more competitive candidate for my current role as a program manager. What worked best in your job search? A combination of LinkedIn, networking and web searches. Any funny incidents during your first days on the job? According to the team leads I had working for me I was pretty intense in the first few weeks although I didn't think I was being that way! I guess I was just excited to start something new and eager to learn as much as I could, much like starting a new assignment in the military. MAJOR