Last Friday, I had the privilege to emcee an event with the Arizona Employer Support of the National Guard and Reserve (AZ-ESGR), AZ Senator John McCain, and Chandler, AZ Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. Our CEO, Brian Krzanich, accepted the Extraordinary Support Award for Intel. We are truly humbled by the distinguished honor and inspired by our nation’s heroes.
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[Pictured: Brian Krzanich, Sen. John McCain, and Major General Michael McGuire.]
Supporting this event was particularly personal to me because of my background. I graduated early from high school but had no real direction in life. My mom recognized this and put me in the Navy when I was just 17 years old. The structure and discipline of the military gave me what I needed to excel, and I thrived. I loved my experience and initially thought I would be a lifer, but my plans abruptly changed when I was injured during a skydiving accident. Although I could no longer serve in the military, the confidence, discipline, teamwork and the ability to work through adversity were forever ingrained in me. These skills, and my Navy experience, have served me well in my career in the private sector, and especially to Intel.
More than 4,000 of our U.S.-based employees at Intel are veterans, several hundred in Arizona alone. Our nation’s servicemen and servicewomen have valuable skills and inherent values gained from their time in the military that makes them ideal candidates for Intel’s culture of innovation and professionalism. Plus, Intel’s flexibility programs — including our eight-week and four-week paid sabbaticals, New Parent Reintegration, temporary coverage assignments, and leave programs — means that our managers are accustomed to extended absences and temporary coverage. This makes it easier to accommodate the demands of military training and deployment for those still engaged in military service.
Employees like Curtis Smith, a 20-year, Arizona-based Intel employee and a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve represent the extraordinary talent and dedication to service that keeps Intel at the forefront of technology and our nation vigilant and secure in the midst of an ever-changing world.
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[Pictured: Sen. John McCain speaks to the audience.]
Intel has teamed up with American Corporate Partners — providing mentoring for military men and women who are transitioning from military to civilian workplaces — as well as with Operation Impact and Project Hired to help severely wounded military veterans transition into the corporate world. We joined efforts with more than 150 other companies as part of the 100,000 Jobs Mission. To date the coalition has hired more than 140,000 veterans.
The need has never been greater as over two million service members have transitioned to civilian life over the last ten years, and a million are more expected to do the same over the next five.
Many of these efforts are due to the actions of Pat McDonald, Intel’s vice president of human resources, who has been crucial in the process of maintaining an environment of support inside the company. We thank her for her ongoing work in making Intel a support of our country’s best and brightest. Both Pat and Intel’s Deborah Eves were honored with the Patriot Award at this event.
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[Pictured: Doug Fisher, Brian Krzanich, Sen. John McCain, Rob Polston, and Shelly Esque.]
In honor of Veterans Day, Intel would like to thank all veterans for their selfless service to our nation. You keep us strong. You keep us safe. And we are forever in your debt.
If you or someone you know is a veteran looking to advance their career in the private sector after courageously serving our nation, I encourage you to visit Intel’s Careers for Military Service Members and Veterans page for more information.
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