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At Safety Net, we’ve found that the skills gained in the military often provide a great foundation for veterans in tech. In observance of Veterans Day, we’d like to share the stories of our team members who have served our country.
Jonah – Learning to Work as a Team
Jonah Dornbos, a Desktop Deployment Specialist at Safety Net, has been able to apply his team building experiences from the Marines to his work in IT. 
Jonah served eight years of active duty (2002-2010) with the United States Marine Corps as part of the Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and 7th Engineer Support Battalion, and 1st Marine Logistics Group. Jonah supported military efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
He completed occupational training at the Marine Corps Communications & Electronics School and served as Small Computer Systems and Network Specialist for the 2nd Marine Division.
“One of the greatest skills that I gained in the Marines was learning to work with people from different backgrounds and life experiences. Bonds were made by coming together under shared organizational values – strengthening the culture of team mentality. This allowed us to be operationally effective and aided in the successful completion of our missions,” says Jonah.
“When I joined Safety Net, I was happy to find another group of diverse individuals who had come together to achieve common goals. Our interests may vary, but we all value professionalism, excellence, and integrity – which makes us a great team.”
Jonah continues to serve with Michigan’s Army National Guard, participating in the state’s traditional Officer Candidate School.
Brad – Developing a Mindset of Preparation
Brad Oliger is a Network Engineer at Safety Net. He advanced to his current position after working in both Deployment and Support roles at the company. Brad’s time in the Marines helped him master his preparedness. 
He served in the Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, NC from 2001-2004, followed by Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Perrysburg, OH in 2004.
While Brad did not have an IT role during his service, he developed a reputation among his peers as the “unofficial IT guy.” Brad comments, “In the Marines, there is a handbook for almost every duty or task. It helped me develop a mindset to be prepared for just about anything. This approach has been helpful to my job, as technology is always evolving, so preparation is key.”
Karrie – Putting Forth your Best Effort
Karrie Grant is Director of Quality and Strategic Projects for Safety Net. She began her Safety Net career working in POS and Support. Karrie served in the U.S. Air Force’s 606 Air Control Squadron at the Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.
Her time in the Air Force helped her better understand key principles that she still applies today.
“I learned the importance of taking responsibility for my actions and putting forth my best effort,” says Karrie. “I was also taught the value of true teamwork when trying to reach a common goal. At Safety Net, this equates to our team working together to ensure our clients are happy and their IT needs are met.”
Mike – Looking at the Bigger Picture
Mike Fitzgerald, a Design Engineer for Safety Net, learned the importance of the bigger picture while serving in the U.S. Army. 
He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey and Fort Gordon, Georgia. He went on to D. Co, 25th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade in Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and HQ Co, 44th Signal Battalion, 7th Signal Brigade, Coleman Barracks in Sandhofen, Germany. Upon returning to the U.S., he was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana as a member of HQ and A Company, 5th Signal Battalion, 5th Infantry Division; and was later assigned to the D Company, 442nd Signal Battalion, 15th Signal Brigade, as an instructor at the Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
“Two things that the Army taught me have an effect on my day-to-day life. First, I am personally responsible for what I do. Second, there’s always a bigger picture. The work that I do, even on a small scale, affects how things get done by other people and organizations.”
Josh – Staying Calm in Stressful Situations
Josh Lichty is a Centralized Services intern at Safety Net. He served four years in the Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines in the Weapons Platoon Assault Section. Josh was deployed with the 13th MEU, where he trained with the French Foreign Legion and the British Royal Marines. He was stationed in Africa as a quick response force to the Middle East and South Sudan. He was also deployed with the UDP in Australia, training with the Australian Army.
While Josh did not have an official IT capacity, much like Brad, he was often called upon for problems with computers. His time in the infantry taught him to stay calm at stressful moments. He’s applied that sense of calm during his transition from military to civilian life, including his IT studies and career.
Safety Net is proud to employ these veterans in tech, and is continually looking for opportunities to recruit veterans who have IT experience and skills for our open positions. Thank you to all veterans for your service!
